Artist Statement

Written on Water - Meditative photography portraits of the surface and mineral-rich waters of the Havasu River, captured while on a spiritual quest through the North American Southwest, Havasupai Reservation, Grand Canyon, AZ.

I had just moved to Flagstaff, AZ, after over a decade working in the mind-harvesting cubicle farms of corporate New York. I had awoken one weekend and given all of my possessions away to the lady who worked at the laundromat across the street from my tiny studio apartment in Astoria, NY. I had gone back to New York to re-explore a relationship with an amazing woman, but I had lasted only a couple of weeks in my misguided effort, mostly on account that I was going through a mid-life crisis and my mind and spirit had no idea which way was my north.

Unknowingly, I was searching for spiritual regeneration during a challenging time in my life. A young friend associated with the Flagstaff chapter of the Sierra Club invited me to an event at Havasupai village. I had no clue what Havasupai was. I trekked down the Grand Canyon wall, giving way to mules packed to the ears and astonished that they were going down the trail without any human guiding them, five or seven of them. Then, down on the canyon floor, I was smitten by stray dogs who began to accompany us on the three-hour-plus hike. The sun felt as if it was riding on my back, strapped directly on the back of my neck with heat I had never felt before. The scrawny dogs would scamper ahead of my group and take refuge in the shade under large rock overhangs. They would wait a few seconds after we had walked by to scamper yet again until the next shade.

I believe the event included helping to clean up around the Havasu River, but the heat made me delirious all the days I was there so I don't trust that memory. I met the drummer of The Doors who played with a band one night. Met his charming wife on the trail. I saw tribal dances and was invited into a Circle of Life dance one night, and my face flushed with tears. I don't know why, seeing almost a hundred people locked in hands and arms, people native to this stolen land and continent.

I camped one night in front of the house of the chief as his guest. He came out near dusk and pointed out rams on the cliffs surrounding Havasupai Village. He told us stories about his people and the rams. Normally, I remember every story, but did I tell you it was a challenging time and I was in some sort of constant state of delirium I now recognize as a kind of state of grace? My body felt broken by a life chosen for me. My soul was alive but as parched for fire as it was for rebirth or life again. I had left a corporate world and every excess of material belongings behind to embark on writing a novel that never made it out of the first paragraph for six months despite sitting down at a small pine-wood desk I made myself Monday to Saturday, 6 AM to 2 PM for six months. And I had embarked on some fantasy-laden fine art photography practice I could barely manage or understand at the time, albeit one that was giving me solace and fulfillment unlike anything else I had ever done in my life.

I grew up going to rivers every weekend as a child in my native Colombia, listening around a night-bonfire to myths and legends from the descendants of natives to the South American continent. There is something purifying that rivers do to me. Their spirit enters me through the flesh and right through the heart and past my soul so every nook and crevice of this small body we call one's life becomes as clean as the day I was born, as vibrant as the fire of my mother's blood and placenta still clinging to my screaming nine pounds of flesh and soul.

And I was not expecting to encounter a river's spirit as stunning as the Havasu River, and its kinspeople as mystifyingly mystical and silent and timeless as the Havasuw `Baaja.

I trekked from the village one day on my own down to Havasu Falls, and on my way... did I tell you the sun rode my neck the entire time I was there? I even felt it at night, or then I finally understood in the flesh why the men in Alexander's army had delirious nights. It wasn't the moon. It was the sun knocking out the darkness in me with lava hammers and chisels - I mean no exaggeration, I kid you not.

As a child, I could see only a few meters in the rain forests I frequented, or across valleys to six-thousand meter peaks in the Andes. What I discovered when I drove back to Flagstaff from New York was a sign on the road that said Flagstaff was 60 miles away and I could see Mount Humphries from that sign. It stunned me with wonder. Because for over two decades in New York my eyes had never seen a distance longer than 100 meters on a daily basis. Seeing the city from the BQE doesn't count. As an Amazonian native said once of New Yorkers during a United Nations visit, "They look like ants. No one ever looks at the sky."

So on my way to Havasu Falls a stray dog started to walk with me. But my soul was stumbling in the blinding heat and he stopped ahead every now and then when I would take refuge in tree shadow. He would peek back my way with a come on! look. In one of those many stops, I looked down from the road and a group of Havasuw `Baaja began coming out of a kind of upside-down mud-made bowl and they were sweating profusely. One of them looked my way with a gaze as slow as a turtle and motioned with his hand for me to join them. I knew what awaited me in that upside-down bowl and I smiled gently and shook my head. I could not possibly believe in myself that I could sustain the experience.

I went down to Havasu Falls and my four-legged companion kept on the trails ahead of me and I shall now see him when we both join the spirit world. I plunged my soul into the cold Havasu River and felt its spirit cleanse me through and through, through heart and mind and spirit until I was relieved of my parched existence for a few moments. And then I saw a small glint of light in the blue green and crystal waters flowing over the rocks and without thinking much about it I grabbed my camera and started taking the portraits of the Havasu River's spirit you see here.

I believe our species has the capacity to create a chrysalis around our psyche when we are adults to rebirth ourselves. A painful process at best, but one that can delivers us into a state of grace.

My wish is that my state of grace and the Havasu River's Spirit are keenly and beautifully reflected in these portraits with the same lifeforce that burned through me when I made them and that they can imbue your days with mysticism and wonder.

Havasuw `Baaj 

The name Havasuw `Baaja means "People of the Blue-Green Waters" in the Havasupai language. This name reflects the tribe's deep connection to the Havasu River and its distinctive blue-green waters, which are a central feature of their homeland in the Grand Canyon. The Havasuw `Baaj have inhabited this region for over a thousand years, with the river and its unique color and surrounding landscape being integral to their cultural and spiritual identity.

Historically, the Havasuw `Baaj were a nomadic tribe, using the plateau lands for hunting and gathering during the cooler months and moving to the canyon floor during the warmer seasons for farming. Their traditional agricultural practices included growing crops like corn, beans, and squash in the fertile soil along the Havasu River. The Havasupai have a rich cultural heritage, with traditions and stories passed down through generations. Despite facing numerous challenges, including displacement and pressures from external developments, the Havasuw `Baa have remained resilient, maintaining their cultural practices and connection to their ancestral lands.

Cosmology

The cosmology of the Havasuw `Baa is deeply intertwined with their natural surroundings, particularly the Grand Canyon and the Havasu River. Their belief system emphasizes harmony and balance with nature. They consider the Grand Canyon not just a physical space but a sacred entity that holds spiritual significance. Many Havasuw `Baa stories and legends involve the creation of the world, the origin of the tribe, and the sacredness of water, which is central to their way of life.

According to Havasuw `Baa cosmology, the land and water are living entities, each with its spirit and power. The Havasuw `Baa believe that they are the guardians of these sacred places, responsible for maintaining their purity and sanctity. Rituals and ceremonies are conducted to honor the spirits of the land and water, seeking blessings for good health, successful harvests, and protection from harm.

Mineral Composition of the Havasu River

The Havasu River is renowned for its breathtaking blue-green waters, a stunning natural phenomenon that captivates all who visit. This striking coloration, combined with the river's pristine clarity, creates an almost otherworldly appearance. To the Havasuw `Baaj people, these waters are a sacred entity, deeply embedded in their cultural and spiritual identity. The beauty of these waters reflects the unique geological processes at work and symbolizes the enduring connection of the Havasuw `Baa to their ancestral lands.

The Havasu River's stunning beauty is a reflection of its unique mineral composition.

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃)

• The predominant mineral responsible for the river’s striking color.

• Forms from the dissolution of limestone (calcium carbonate rock) in the surrounding area.

• Precipitates out of the water and settles on the riverbed, reflecting sunlight and giving the water its blue-green hue.

Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO₃)

• Often found in conjunction with calcium carbonate.

• Also contributes to the water’s clarity and color.

Silica (SiO₂)

• Present in smaller amounts, contributing to the clarity of the water.

• Helps to enhance the light-scattering effect that makes the water appear vibrant.

• Trace Minerals:

• Small amounts of other minerals, such as sodium, potassium, and sulfate, are also present but in much lower concentrations.

Reasons for Mineral Presence

Geological Formation:

• The Havasu River flows through the Grand Canyon, which is composed of layers of sedimentary rocks, including limestone and dolomite. These rocks are rich in calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.

• As water flows over and through these rocks, it dissolves these minerals, which are then carried into the river.

Spring Water Sources:

• The Havasu River is fed by a series of springs, particularly from the Supai formation.

• Spring water often has a high mineral content because it percolates through mineral-rich rock formations before emerging at the surface.

Temperature and pH:

• The temperature and pH of the water also play a role in the solubility of minerals.

• Warm temperatures and the slightly alkaline pH of the river water enhance the dissolution of calcium carbonate from the surrounding rocks.

Precipitation and Deposition:

• As the water flows, changes in temperature and pH can cause dissolved calcium carbonate to precipitate out of the water.

• This process forms travertine terraces and deposits on the riverbed, further enhancing the river’s color and clarity.

Environmental Impact 

• The mineral-rich water supports a unique ecosystem, including specific types of algae and aquatic plants that thrive in such conditions.

• The presence of these minerals and the resulting water clarity and color make the Havasu River a visually spectacular and ecologically important area.

Understanding the mineral composition and its sources provides insight into the natural processes that create and maintain the stunning beauty of the Havasu River.

For those new to the world of art collecting, the term "editions" refers to the number of copies produced from a single original piece of artwork. Editions help ensure the exclusivity and value of each print. Understanding the difference between limited and rare editions is crucial for collectors.

In all of my fine art photography, I am committed to offering rare editions to ensure exclusivity and high value for collectors. Each artwork is produced in extremely limited quantities, with only 3 prints available for the larger size and 5 for the smaller size. Some series are even more exclusive, offered in only one size with an edition of 3

RARE EDITION
Definition: A rare edition is even more exclusive than a limited edition, implying extreme scarcity with very few prints available.

Typical Range: Rare editions typically include fewer than five prints and sometimes might even be a single print.

Value: Due to their extreme rarity, these prints are highly valuable and sought after by collectors.

Numbering: Similar to limited editions, rare editions are also numbered and usually signed by the artist.

LIMITED EDITION

Definition: A limited edition refers to a set number of prints produced from a single image. Once this number is reached, no more prints are made, ensuring scarcity.

Typical Range: The number can vary but is often between 5 to 50 prints. However, some editions can be larger. 

Value: The value of a limited edition print is usually higher than that of an open edition (where prints are made continuously) because the supply is restricted.

Numbering: Each print in a limited edition is usually numbered (e.g., 1/25, 2/25) and sometimes signed by the artist.

EXCLUSIVITY

Each series is composed of a maximum of 18 to 27 artworks. No other artworks from this series will ever be offered for sale. Once an edition for an artwork is sold out, no more prints will ever be available. Once all editions for all artworks in my series are sold out, the entire series will be sold out. This ensures the exclusivity and enduring value of each piece and each series as a whole.

In summary, while both limited and rare editions indicate a finite number of prints, rare editions are more exclusive and scarce, generally making them more valuable. This distinction is important for collectors and galleries as it directly influences the market value and desirability of the prints.

Framing, as displayed under each artwork, includes wood with acid-free mat and archival materials, along with clear acrylic featuring superior UV protection. Your framed artwork ships with installation hardware, and it arrives ready to hang. Unframed prints will be shipped in a tube. Additional framing options are available at an extra cost - please email me at marco@ma9.co for more information.

Enjoy free shipping on all orders placed within the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska.

International Shipping: International shipping is available at an additional cost. For more information, please email me at marco@ma9.co.

Processing & Shipping Time: All orders take approximately 10 to 15 business days to print, mount, frame, and prepare for shipping. Once shipped, delivery via UPS Ground typically takes an additional 3 to 7 business days. The total time from order to delivery is approximately 13 to 22 business days.

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Custom Orders

• Personalized Creations: Each product is custom-made just for you, making it unique and special. As a result, we do not accept returns, nor offer refunds, exchanges, or credit.
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• Our Promise: We use the finest archival materials and hand-assemble each frame to ensure top quality. Every print is color-matched to the artist's original file and fully authenticated.
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• Reporting Issues: If your order arrives damaged, please contact us within 48 hours of receiving your package. Send clear photos of the damage and the packaging.
• Resolution Process: We will review your photos and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to repair or replace the damaged item. This process may take up to 30 business days. While we aim to resolve issues within this timeframe, it may extend beyond it. Replacements are subject to our current manufacturing and shipping schedules. Note that you may be responsible for return shipping costs.

Defective Products

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• Placing Orders: Orders outside the continental U.S. and Canada will not be accepted through our website. International clients must place orders privately by contacting us via email. The buyer is responsible for shipping, duties, and any other costs associated with international shipping.

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Dispute Resolution

• Resolution Process: Any disputes arising from this policy will be resolved as per our Terms of Use.

Posting Policy

• Visibility Requirement: Our return policy is clearly posted on our website and at the point of sale. This ensures compliance with state-specific laws requiring conspicuous posting of return policies.

For any questions or assistance, including reporting damages or issues, please reach out to us at marco@ma9.co. We are here to help and ensure you have a wonderful experience with our fine art photography.