Moon of Red Chokecherries is a drawing by Dawn Senior-Trask which was uploaded on June 30th, 2010.
Moon of Red Chokecherries
Once, when Dawn was nine years old, she looked out the cabin window and saw a mountain lion stalking along the draw's cliffs nearby. He moved with... more
Title
Moon of Red Chokecherries
Artist
Dawn Senior-Trask
Medium
Drawing - Woodcut
Description
Once, when Dawn was nine years old, she looked out the cabin window and saw a mountain lion stalking along the draw's cliffs nearby. He moved with sure power over the rocks, his tail swishing back and forth slowly. Awestruck, she called her parents and they watched him, fascinated. But soon he disappeared behind boulders, and they didn't see him again.
A day or so later, she went down to the stream to play. Squished deep in the mud along the banks she found the big round tracks of the mountain lion. She followed them downstream, deeper into the draw. Her father had explained to her that mountain lions don't attack people, so she wasn't afraid. But she didn't know where the mountain lion was, and she wondered if he could be watching her from behind a boulder or clump of cedars. He seemed to be everywhere, in the mud, in the water, in the very air that she breathed. She didn't follow him very far, but so powerful was the adventure that she still draws and writes about it often, and even now when she goes down to that part of the draw she feels the mountain lion's spirit still there.
In the Lakota calendar, Moon of Red Chokecherries refers roughly to the month of July, just before the wild berries ripen.
The design at top and bottom of this woodcut are meant to arouse the viewer's curiosity in a way similar to ancient petroglyphs. Looking at them now, we might not understand their full meaning, but their strong mood makes us try to imagine it. Many of the designs in Dawn's woodcut might suggest masks. The Hopis use masks in their ceremonials, which represent all that lives -- the Wolf Kachina, Hummingbird Kachina, Eagle Kachina, Butterfly Kachina, and many more. To create her "masks," Dawn used drawings she had made in her sketchbook of insects and plants. The mask in the lower left corner, for instance, is really part of a beetle's back.
Uploaded
June 30th, 2010
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Comments (31)
Sandi OReilly
Beautiful artwork, so enjoying your drawing and block work, this is such a great work and design, F/L
Karen Slagle
Beautiful Dawn, I love your stories from your past, so fascinating and I love mountain lions. f/l
Jeannie Rhode Photography
Dawn, Sharing my Congratulations on your recent Feature in Wisconsin Flower and Scenery !
Dawn Senior-Trask
Many thanks to all of you for your kind comments, and to you RC and Randy, for the features! I'm happy and honored that you like my work! fav
Randy Rosenberger
This piece of fine artwork has earned the honor of being chosen to show off to other artists and prospective buyers here in the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group. It is an honor to share this piece of well composed and beautiful art on our Featured section of our homepage. Thanks much for sharing! Liked and Faved Randy B. Rosenberger (administrator of the WFS group)
Susan Esbensen
A great storytelling image that brings to life your childhood memories Dawn! Nicely done!
Karen Slagle
Wow Dawn, your background is really shining through with this beauty....Love the NA influences in your wonderful art. f/l
Gloria Ssali
wow another masterpiece love this unique technique you employ so well to render these images so delightful ...loved reading the prose and the beautiful spiritual feeling evoked ......a stunning piece Dawn you have a fantastic design sense love this fascinating drawing fl
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Gerald Strine
Dawn I love this work simple and very cool. I wish I could have been with you to see the Cougar in person ! L/F
Branko Jovanovic
, the variety of art you do is are amazing ..... all of it so good! You are definitely a multi gifted artist :)...v&f
Oiyee At Oystudio
This is such a beautiful woodcut with a wonderful story behind it! Dawn, you are multi-talented ! This is a big fav of mine !
Chris Riley
A wonderful woodcut and supporting narrative, the whole composition has a very nice feeling of balanced space, enhanced by the choice of colours - I appreciate your very kind feedback on 'Velasquez Infanta', you have described exactly the effect I was attempting to express, Thank you....Chris R
Chris Riley
A wonderful woodcut and supporting narrative, the whole composition has a very nice feeling of balanced space, enhanced by the choice of colours - I appreciate your very kind feedback on 'Velasquez Infanta', you have described exactly the effect I was attempting to express, Thank you....Chris R