Nicaragua

Arrived in Nicaragua last night.  Leading a photography workshop here for the week.  Incredible country and people.  I have created a new blog for posting photography tips and tales. Click here to join me on the new blog.  This blog will continue to carry the work of Question of Power.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

China Express

The China Express Exhibit is rolling for 2014.  First stop Siena College in Albany, NY.  The exhibit will be in Albany until the 16th of this month.  Thank you Siena College for sharing the message.  Next scheduled stop will be the Lummi Nation in Washington.  Then on to Pittsburg.  More dates and times will be posted soon.  A big "Thank You" to Santa Fe Art Institute and all of our supporters for helping us get this important message on the road this year!

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Raising their Voices

On December 23 community members from several chapter houses traveled to Window Rock, AZ to raise their voices.  The Navajo Nation tribal council was preparing to cast a vote on future coal and uranium mining.  A vote which did not represent the voices of the people.  Many chapter houses across the Navajo Nation had passed Resolutions against future coal and uranium mining.

Dwayne Chili Yazzie, president of the Shiprock Chapter House, attempted to present his chapter's concerns regarding the current coal mining and the proposed renewal of uranium mining.  He was removed from the council chambers by six tribal police officers.

The vote passed.  A hand full of individuals cast a vote against the voices of many.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

In the air with EcoFlight

EcoFlight students Farmington, NM.

Last week EcoFlight invited me to work with college students from Colorado and high school students from Red Cove on the Navajo Nation.  EcoFlight is an organization out of Colorado providing overflights for educational, scientific and media purposes.  I have worked with them before.  They are great folks. 

San Juan coal burning power plant Four Corners, NM.  Shiprock on horizon.

For several of the Navajo students this was their first experience flying.  They had the opportunity to see their homeland in a new way. 

BHP coal strip mine Four Corners NM.

The week of aerial tours and on the ground meetings and discussions gave the students a new perspective on energy development in the United States.
be strong, be safe, Carlan

"It does not require many words to speak the truth"...Chief Joseph

That quote came to mind this past week.  I was asked to provide some photographs for communities members on the Navajo Nation.  Photographs I had made in 2006 and 2008.  Photographs depicting the truth.

In 2006 I made a portrait of Alice Gilmore at her sister's grave site. (Note the stone with shovel to the left of Alice). Alice had taken me to the grave site asking me to document it.  Her fear was the site would be desecrated by the mining.

In 2008 Alice asked me to return to the site with her.  We found heavy equipment tracks and disturbance to the grave site. Questions were asked, no answers were received.

Last week in a meeting with the Office of Surface Mining and Navajo Nation, community members were accused of lying regarding grave site desecration by mining activities.  I am providing these and additional photographs as evidence in an upcoming meeting.

"It does not require many photographs to speak the truth".

be strong, be safe, Carlan

How photographs tell a story

In April of 2008 I made this photograph of Alice Gilmore in front of her home on the Navajo Nation near Burnham NM.  Since that time Alice has lost her home (see Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore) and now most of her grazing permit area to the BHP coal strip mine.

This past week I was asked to return to the area to document the destruction and loss of Glaash, sacred Navajo white clay.  On the way I returned to Alice's vacant house.  The mine has encroached  on the place she once called home.  Behind the house loom tailing piles hundreds of feet high.

The unending landscape once extended to the far horizon. Broken now with miles of open pit mining.

Two years ago judgement in Federal Court ordered the Federal Office of Surface Mining to stop the permitting for mining in the area.  OSM defied the judgement.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Kickstand Down Santa Fe

Two weeks. 2300 miles. 5000 bugs on my leathers.  Traveling the Blueline Highways.

Endless skies along the High Plains Highway.

Small town family diners.

Stormy nights, but sunny days.

Rainbows leading to a pot of gold.

Small town attractions.

Fast food breakfast.

Memories written to a lost brother and sister at a roadside rest.

Freedom of the open road.

be strong, be safe, Carlan