Paper print — 15” x 15”

This is a fairly loyal rendition to a plate of pottery found in the Northern desert of Chile, Atacama. This is the driest part of our planet, which statistically has the lowest rainfall per year of any place known. Here there have been perfectly preserved human bodies from thousand of years ago. These mummified bodies are scattered at great altitudes throughout the Andes foothills. They are found still wearing their regal attire of masterful weavings in pristine condition, showing their bright colors and intricate designs. The pottery found in that area has also been preserved because of the lack of moisture in the air.

I studied these geometrical shapes and loved them. The little men on this shield, like many other findings in this area, are reminiscent of space travelers. Some wall carvings even represent humanoids with space suit-like clothing on. This was all too mysterious and fascinating for me. I entitled it, the guardians of the four directions, as a call and in honor of the ancestry that lived there long before us.