Shonto Begay grand canyon national park, arizona


Before I was a professional painter, I spent about 12 years as a park ranger. It was invaluable because it firmed up my own belief and practice of stewardship— of conserving the land, for seven generations and beyond. That concept is very much in line with my traditional philosophy. I grew up in Arizona, on the Navajo nation. Being from a very Earth-based culture, our stories are tied to the land and our lives are guided by the seasons. Most of our ceremonies and religious practices are about maintaining balance, so that there is no division between yourself and the Earth that you care for. It’s one and the same. When I paint a landscape, I am also looking for balance—in the composi- tion, in the synchronicity of the color palette. I ask myself how I belong to that landscape, and what I wish to share: I can’t just throw something personal on the wall and hope people get it. I have to touch our shared narrative in some manner, touch on something we have in common.


56 · LAND&PEOPLE · FALL/WINTER 2014


photo courtesy of the artist


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