According to Apache theology, when God told the Apache of those things that he could eat to sustain himself, he described the edible animals as day spirits…..those he should not consider as food were night spirits.  These night spirits were to be used for other things.

Some of the night spirits had curative powers, some were wise and should be used as consultants and some of the Apache just did not need to mess with.

To make himself perfectly clear, God decided to gather the night animals and put them into a bag, but some escaped.  Among the escapees, were the Bears, Owls, Snakes and Lizards.

The rattlesnake is wise beyond the point of curing and the three “Rs”, he knows of mystical and historical things, of  “vibes” and is an all around “Merlin”.

The Apache of “Secrets Of The Night” wants to learn this wisdom, perhaps his search is similar to the search of the Holy Grail.  He kneels and, because the snake whispers, he holds him close and begs the rattler to give up some of his secrets.

The primary concern in the design of “Secrets Of The Night” is to maintain the tight mass of the Apache, focusing on the hear of the snake, while displaying the snakes body in its entirety.

“Secrets Of The Night” was awarded the Gold Medal for Sculpture as well as Best of Show at the 1986 Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition.