Ropes to God: Ancient Rock Art of Southern Africa
With Original Works By Peggy Sands
Cave paintings of the Kalahari Bushmen juxtaposed with new original works by local artist Peggy Sands on display at Ringing Rocks Foundation in Sedona
The Bushmen of Southern Africa have been depicting their spiritual understanding of the world in highly detailed cave paintings for thousands of years. On exhibit at The Ringing Rocks Foundation are twelve digital photographs illustrating some of the complexity and beauty of these ancient "stories." In addition local artist Peggy Sands has interpreted the shamanic transformation often depicted in the cave paintings with three new works on canvas to be unveiled at a free reception on Friday, November 7th at 7 pm.
"Peggy has made a fascinating connection with the ancient shaman of the Kalahari through her painting of a healer at the height of his spiritual trance as he is invoking the spirit of the eland to aid him in protecting his village," commented Steve Harvath, Executive Director of Ringing Rocks Foundation. "We wanted to not only show the work of one of the oldest living cultures in the world, but to incorporate a sense of how their wisdom can inform us in modern society. Peggy has done this masterfully in her evocative paintings," added Dr. Harvath.
The ancient rock art was photographed and cataloged as part of a four year partnership between Ringing Rocks Foundation and the Rock Art Research Institute (RARI) of South Africa. During this project, RARI documented and preserved over 170,000 images of ancient paintings throughout southern Africa. This collection has become the largest of its kind in the world.
The select images on display in Sedona illuminate one small aspect of the Bushmen's very complex understanding of the universe and their relationship to it. They depict shaman traveling from our corporeal realm into the realms of their ancestors, spirit helpers and the realm of their "Big God." The paintings also give one a sense of the sophisticated artistry incorporated by the |Xam Bushmen thousands of years ago. The figures, while simple, use shadows and highlights as well as body articulation and scale to bring their stories to life.
In addition to the photographs and the new original works by Sedona artist Peggy Sands the exhibition also includes several short films created by the Rock Art Research Institute presenting modern theories about the meaning of the ancient images and of the life of present day Bushmen who still follow their ancestors' traditions.
Ringing Rocks is located at 3190 W. Hwy 89A. Hours are Monday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is free.
Limited Edition Prints Will Be Available For Purchase. Proceeds Will Benefit The Ringing Rocks Foundation.
