This is the second year in a row (which I suppose is long enough to call a tradition) that my daughters and I are spending a week at Ghost Ranch. I lived 44 years in New Mexico before ever laying eyes on Kitchen Mesa. I don’t know what took me so long to get here, except New Mexico has many beautiful places, several of which I guess kept me away. But here I am now, so late on the 4th of July that the night is turning to morning.
Here’s how my day went today. I got up with the girls at about 7. We’re staying in a block of rooms built in a U-shape around a grassy courtyard, sleeping with doors and windows open. There aren’t locks or keys at Ghost Ranch. I took a shower while Dee and Em headed out to breakfast. Dee’s friend from last year spent the night with us; her parents are in a different set of buildings on the ranch. (BTW, it’s called a ranch, and it has 21,000 acres, some set aside for cattle-grazing, but the main area where we are looks and feels more like a retreat center. Which it also is. Picture lots of adobe-style buildings scattered throughout a green valley surrounded by red-and-yellow cliffs.)
I made it to breakfast, sat with folks I knew from last year. There are maybe 200 people here this week. Lots of families and older folks. Ghost Ranch is owned by the Presbyterian Church, and while there are plenty of Presbyterians here, there is not an overly religious feel to the place. Spiritual, yes. But the religious make-up of the retreat attendees is eclectic.
For me, Ghost Ranch is about being able to take art classes (although there’s so much more than art classes) in a remarkable terrain with remarkable instructors while having my daughters with me. I get to nurture my soul yet do so without spending time away from them. Not many places where I can do that.
I know I should go into some of the history of the place, but besides mentioning that Georgia O’Keeffe had eight acres here and was inspired by the sandstone cliffs and the bleached skulls and whatever else she saw, I can’t do justice. Besides, I’m tired.
After breakfast I had a class in Hebrew Scripture and retablos, which I’ll talk more about over the next several days. Just know that my teachers are a rabbi and a Catholic santero. We’re studying the female figures from the Old Testament, starting yesterday with Sarai (Sarah) and then today Rebecca. Our class started at 9a, and we studied for about one hour and then moved into painting. Took a break at lunch, then had time off until dinner. Back again together at 7 until 8:30p.
My girls were in their own classes — Em in a youth camp, Dee paleontology — that mirror, from a time standpoint, my course. Which means we sleep and eat together plus have a big chunk of time during the day where we can do whatever we want together. Except my girls are into running wild around the place being independent. Today during the afternoon off Em went to Echo Canyon with friends, and Dee made dinosaur eggs. So I ended up painting in the studio and finishing my second retablo.
Today culiminated with a 4th of July parade where the kids rode in floats they made in their classes. Dee’s had a smoking volcano; Em’s was called “The Fuzzies.” There was a fireworks display late; it didn’t start until 9:30 or so.
So much more I’d like to say about the place; I’ll only be able to do so by posting it in snippets. Nothing terribly polished or thought out. But that’s how Ghost Ranch is. It’s so beautiful and grand, you can’t feed it all at once else it comes out like water from a fire hose. It has to be experienced in small pieces. This is what I offer, for starters.
–Kitchen Mesa at Sunset and Sun Setting on Chimney Rock, photos taken July 4, 2007, photos © 2007 by ybonesy. All rights reserved.
ybonesy, you sound grounded. At home. When I look at your photos of Kitchen Mesa and Chimney Rock, I feel at peace. And remember how beautiful it was walking up the canyon last year.
Your work with the Hebrew Scripture and retablos sounds fascinating. Can’t wait to see how those teachings filter down through your art. I am glad you get to sit with Sarai and Rebecca. As I revisit Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, I run into Ani, the earth goddess. She reminds me of Gaia. And the women of the Old Testament. I believe they all sit together. Holding the earth.
Remember that peek over the wall at Georgia’s place last summer? It doesn’t take much to see why she loved it there. Structure and bones.
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Sounds wonderful. Inspirational yet secure and supported. Anita
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How wonderful for your daughters to see their mother pursuing her creative life. They won’t have to get to 20 or 30 or 40 and make drastic changes in their life to be able to express themselves. It will be in their blood.
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Yes, I remember going to O’Keeffe’s house in Abiquiu and looking at the courtyard from the other side of the wall. Maybe we’ll stop by there on the way home.
One thing I noticed today is the apricots are still green here. The apricots at our house have already ripened and are long gone.
Tonight was somethng called the Coffee House. It’s a cross between open mic and talent show. Two readings, both of which were very powerful. One of the writers was a poet who’s in my retablo class. I hope to post information about him later this week. He just published a new book, and his work is wonderful.
Also a lot of young kids who played music and did DJ stuff and beatboxing (link). The kids (they’re teenagers) are sitting in here with me in the computer lab now. Me and the youngsters – ha!
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[…] -related to posts, What I Remember About Writing , A Taste of Ghost Ranch, NM […]
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I didn’t make it to O’Keeffe’s house. So much to do; so little time. Interesting difference I note from the writing intensive versus my art workshop.
Every free moment at the art workshop is dedicated to producing art. Every free moment at the writing workshop is dedicated to walking, writing, sitting, being. One is not better than the other. Producing art is being, but there is a sense of urgency in the art workshop that is missing from the writing workshop.
Does it have to do with the very practical problem of having materials at hand. (I need my instructor’s paints and stamps and gold leaf and boards at the art workshop, whereas with writing I have everything I need — pens and notepads and me)? I don’t know, but I do feel the difference.
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[…] I went to Ghost Ranch this past week, I arrived at the open-air studio where my Hebrew Scripture Retablo workshop was taught and there […]
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[…] Most days I’m painting all day long. I can hardly pull myself away from the work I’m doing. Painting with other artists, too, is powerful. We mostly sit without talking, although every now and then quiet conversations take place among different people in the class. Several folks spend all their free time painting in the workshop space, even though they could be out hiking or taking side trips or even resting. It’s a dedicated group. In fact, I bet they’re up at the studio painting right now, which I’d be doing, too, except I have three girls asleep in the room (one for a “sleepover”) and I figure I’d better get to bed myself. -Related to post A Taste Of Ghost Ranch, NM […]
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[…] 13th, 2007 by ybonesy Dee called last night. She stayed one extra week in Ghost Ranch with friends of ours we met there last year. While I was in Ghost Ranch last week, Dee did the high […]
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I have been looking for a Retablo for our Jewish & Catholic home and was hoping to find a painting of Miriam or perhaps Esther but I’d be interested in seeing paintings of Sarah and/or Rachel. Do you have/know a website where I could see and perhaps order such a painting? I love the work of Catherine Robles Shaw and we do own and display one of hers, but she only does the Catholic Saints. I appreciate any information you can send me. Thanks, Sandy Sanchez
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The interesting thing about the fusion of Judaism and Catholicism when it comes to retablos is that the former does not have this tradition of religious iconography. I don’t know all the specifics, but in our class we talked about religious restrictions on depicting individuals from the Hebrew Scriptures in artistic form. My understanding is there is a tradition of painting words and writing, not people. And so when we painted these individuals, we did so after a study of the Scriptures and with a deep respect for each religion’s traditions.
Having said that, it is unusual to find the figures from the Old Testament in any retablos. In our class we painted Sarai (Sarah), Rebecca, and Miriam. We really only had time for those three (along with the “Queen of Heaven.”) I will send you an email with the name and address of our retablo teacher, who is a fantastic folk artist and who has his works for sale. I know he painted several, and possibly other figures in addition to those three.
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Thank you. I look forward to seeing those works. Yes I had forgotten that there was the ancient Jewish prohibition against depicting people in art, which would be perceived as too much like idol worship (like the golden calf?) . . . sounds like a really interesting class!
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It was very interesting. I had never studied the bible before (well, not including for Catechism and Confirmation, neither of which I recall very well), and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. It’s contemplative, and there’s a great deal to be gained from considering the ways in which one could interpret the Scriptures. The translations were as varied as the students and their life experiences. I enjoyed that flexibility and the openness I found in my own heart to lead me in a particular direction, which was often no direction at all.
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[…] -Related to post A Taste Of Ghost Ranch, NM […]
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In one of your comments about your experience at Ghost Ranch, in New Mexico, someone was looking for retablos of Jewish Women or the like. Marie Romero Cash is a well-known santera from Santa Fe who has included many women of the bible in her carvings and paintings. You can contact her at mromerocash@msn.com. I have ordered a Ruth from her and also a Miriam and they are both beautiful. I hope someone can use this information. Thank you. Shonda
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I just bought a Marie Romero Cash bulto at Spanish Market a few Saturdays ago. I love her work. I swore I was only going to look, but I couldn’t resist. What strange synchronicity to now see this comment. Thanks for stopping in.
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By curiosity… I read this and am yet again amazed at the link to you two. It’s kinda like two savants who have “I love Lucy” as their pen pal.
I too have only peeked over Georgia’s wall… unable to step inside.
The first time was to study some of her paintings and I was following an old book with a simple map showing 2 places in Abiquiu where she lived.
It’s also when I first visited Mabel’s place, Ghost Ranch and laid on the bench to see Georgia’s view of the Lawrence Tree. I remember feeling scared someone would catch me as I peered over the wall, trying to breathe in some of the magic. At this time, the home wasn’t open to visitors.
I’ve been back several times and even had reservations twice to visit when it first opened to the public. It was a 6 month wait back then. I canceled both times, not having the nerve.
I’ve read every book ever written on Georgia and know of her extreme need for privacy. It’s been a while since I’ve re-read one, but I believe she never wanted this particular house opened to visitors…and I can’t seem to get beyond it. Silly, I know…but it’s there in me.
I realize that they need to make money to keep it maintained and protected and I’m sure each visitor is very respectful and cherishes her memory… but unless she sends me a sign telling me it’s ok, I think one of you is going to have to write about what you see…when you finally do go…so at least I’ll know. 🙂
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I didn’t stop by on the way home like I said I might. (I took the back way around the Pedernal, is why.) I kind of feel that way, too, about not wanting to be a gawky tourist in the home of someone who was so private. But on the other hand, I have this feeling I might sense something there. I want to feel the space. Maybe I will learn something about space.
I love your opening comment, Heather. I Love Lucy as a penpal is a wonderfully bizarre thing to consider.
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[…] the summer of 2006, Natalie took us on a field trip to some of her favorite places at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. We wrote, swam, and took a haiku walk up Box Canyon. For me, Ghost Ranch was one of the most […]
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[…] months, it was like that. It was actually taking everybody that week, when I took you all to Ghost Ranch, that something happened and it broke. After that I kind of loved it again. Not only kind of loved […]
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[…] fearful of the lack of control inherent in a brush (as compared to a pencil), I took a workshop at Ghost Ranch and learned to paint. My corporate job changed around the same time, too. I landed an assignment […]
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