Landscapes

Notes by artist

First they came panning for color, those tiny flakes of gold in the bottom of a stream bed. When those were found, the gold seekers worked the gravel in rocker cradles. As a stream would play out, the next step was to follow it up to the source in the mountains. Then the prospectors would dig in likely spots for veins of ore. If fortune smiled, a shaft would be sunk to bring the bounty to the surface.

Once on top, the bulky ore whether silver or gold, would be broken up and the mineral extracted. Part of one process included a stamp mill, like this one on the Pintler Highway near Georgetown Lake. I saw the Gold Coin Mine resting in a bright gold of another sort. It was fall and the quaking aspen had turned. When I conceived the idea for this work, I thought all I needed to complete it was a gold coin and what do you know. They minted the Sacagawea dollar and my inspiration was complete.

#E-210

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#F-210

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