The product of art is, to me, the result of solving a major problem by creating many smaller ones and solving them -  creatively.  I am, and have been fascinated by the stories of the Native Americans, whether they describe their religious beliefs, war, hunting exploits or happenings of daily life. 

The Navajo is so rich in these stories, both in their content and delivery, that I doubt that anyone could chronicle all of them accurately.

The Navajo does not point with his arm or hand, that is impolite or crude. He, while directing you with words, will motion with his lips the direction you should travel.  Add this fact to the story of the forgotten magic bundles, toss in the thought of showing all this in sculptural form and a large problem is created. 

First, the story, the main ingredient, when the Dineh (Navajo People) came to the surface of the earth, they realized they had forgotten their magic bundles.  These bundles contained all the magic for the propagation of the people and without them the Dineh could die out.

As in the lore of many indian nations, for the Dineh, the large water birds were the messengers for sacred missions. 

To create a sculpture from all this is a challenge, the old man, the elder must direct the young (for it’s a long journey) Great Blue Heron to return to the nether world and retrieve the bundles. 

With no words, with no pointing, with barely more than body language, the story is told. 

Walking away from his point of emergence to the surface world, Old Man twists his upper body, shoulders, the head toward the land from whence they came. 

I have used a typical wooden flute as an extension of the indians lips, while above, the Heron is wheeling to the return course with his head already on line with his destination.