The Gold Tones

Shamanistic Rock Art consists of drawings and paintings on rocks that record the myths, individual visions, and hunting rituals of the Native Americans. They are found near ancient habitations, migratory routes, and places of power, where people would communicate with the spirit world.  Shamanism is the world’s oldest religion and its main attributes are communication with the spirit world and the acquisition of power through spirit helpers.

Gold tones is a photographic process that replicates an old and difficult method of printing on glass. The resulting photograph was then backed on the reverse side with gold powder or gold leaf. I printed my photographs on glass and acetate and then backed the photographs with 24-carat gold leaf. The resulting luminous effect cannot be reproduced by any other technique. The original photographs were made at night and I used a flashlight to illuminate and trace the drawings or paintings. I wanted them to look like religious icons.