Sacred Water and The Edge are currently on exhibit as a part of the Love Letters exhibit at 40 West Gallery at 1560 Teller Street in Lakewood, Colorado. Gallery hours are Wednesday - Saturday from 12-4 pm. Love Letters will be on display through January 5, 2020. Artists in the Love Letters exhibit were asked to submit art representing people, places, and things that they love along with love letters. When I saw the call for entries I knew it was a good fit for my paintings of Grand Canyon. These are the “love letters” and artist statements I wrote for my two paintings:

The Edge

Dear Plateau Point,

You have ensnared my heart and soul with your beauty and solitude. You are not easy to reach but are worth the effort. Perhaps it is having to work so hard to visit you that makes you so special. You are quiet and desolate. Your expansive views take my breath away. When I am in your presence, I feel like I am on the edge of the world and in the heart of the canyon. I watch the changing light for miles in every direction. Far below tiny toy rafts float by.  Time passes slowly, and yet goes by too fast. I want to stay longer, but alas, I must go and dream of visiting you another day.

Until we meet again,

Brinda Lane-Pumphrey

Fourteen years ago, I spent five days on a rim to rim hike in Grand Canyon National Park that had a profound effect on me and has influenced my art. When I am not at Grand Canyon, I am dreaming of going back. The subject of this painting, Plateau Point, is one of my favorite overlooks. It is at the end of a steep six-mile hike; the Colorado River flows past 1260 feet below. It is breathtaking.

Sacred Water

Dear Havasu,

For years you captured my imagination. I dreamt of your high canyon walls and waterfalls spilling into clear blue-green pools. Finally, I met you in person. You were everything I envisioned and more. You are sacred to the Havasupai and felt deeply spiritual to me. The Havasupai people are generous to share this very special place with the outside world.

With love and admiration,

Brinda Lane-Pumphrey

I fulfilled a dream last May when I hiked into Havasu Canyon in the western end of Grand Canyon. I was overwhelmed by the incredible beauty of the canyon, the falls, and the blue-green water of Havasu Creek. There were so many surprises! After visiting Havasu Falls I visualized a loving pair of hands gently catching the water as it fell, as if the ancestors of the Havasupai people were still there watching over this place. Painting is my way of expressing a deep connection with the landscapes I love.