colorado postcards II

  red rocks park, everyone arriving for a concert at sunset

every single one of these photographs that i'm sharing with you were quickly snapped with the convenience of my little iPhone camera.  i brought my digital camera along with me on this trip, but it seems too cumbersome and too involved to take the photos, load them into the computer, edit, sort, keep, cull.  why has life gotten to be so fly by night?!  but for the sake of saving time and energy, i'm sharing these with you.

  robin was able to nab a couple of tickets online for neil young's sold out concert at red rocks this past sunday evening.  my, my - what a life experience that neither of us will ever forget!  a perfect summer evening with a perfect continual breeze, glittering lights of denver in the distant horizon, beautiful huge red rocks, a vibrant energy in the crowd, incredible crystal clear music and neil young's voice, then - the best of all - a huge rising moon, all orange and swollen, coming up over the eastern horizon above those glittering denver lights.  to experience that with my son was perfection.

  this shot was taken on our way up 11,700 feet to a very special place...

the one thing i wanted to do while here, outside of  creating art in this lovely studio, and carving out as much time with my son as much as possible, was to visit the ancient (so ancient!) stand of bristlecone trees up on windy ridge.  the photos below were all taken up there - i was breathless from the beauty, and overwhelmed as well - and it is my pleasure to share them with you.  it was an amazing experience, deeply spiritual and moving.  i created music for the trees around me by humming.  i even made a video of that, and am grateful i have it to savor over and over again.

it was humbling to stand there next to such wise, ancient beings.  just imagine what they've seen, what lives have come and gone in their presence.  some of them are over 1,000 years of age - the oldest living creatures on this earth.  humbling indeed.

i carried a few pieces of my newer creations in a small backpack, to photograph them hanging from trunks, from branches.  after spending thirty minutes arranging and hanging and snapping photographs, the very notion of this seemed trivial, unnecessary, a waste of my time in the midst of such powerful beauty.

  i'm glad i stopped.  there was just too much to take in, to absorb.

  i swear, i believe they listened to me as i hummed a nameless nina tune.  they listened, and they loved me right back.  i know they did.  i want to go see them again, and again.   it was a holy, sacred time in a very holy place.
to have experienced this with robin was a priceless gift, one that i cherish and hold closely to my heart. and the journey continues....xo

 

Comments

[susanc]

What a powerfully magical place! So glad you got to experience it, especially with Robin. Your new creations are beautiful as well. :)

[Tina in McLeansville]

I am so glad this door opened for you, that you walked through it to experience something so tremendously awesome, that you are able to share it with your son. Continue on down that road....such an amazing adventure! Hugs...xo

[Barbara]

I would be willing to bet those ancient and wise trees are cherishing the memory of your song and wishing they could always wear your creations!

[sandra]

ooooouuuuuu...what an experience. Those trees have the sinew of humans. I could feel the life. Thank you.

[Emily]

Red Rocks is the best place to see a concert. My husband was there Wednesday night to see Jack White. I could not go : (
I have never seen the bristle cones --shame on me!
I do believe all of life's answers can be found from trees.....
Glad you are enjoying your time here Nina.

[SusanS]

Its roots are bristling in the air
Like some mad Earth-god's spiny hair

( poem I learned in high school)

[Carol Weiler]

Have been to Red Rocks with my daughter and family and it is truly amazing. Sounds like you are on a lovely journey. Those trees are lucky to be adorned by your jewelry.

[Kathy Edwards Hayslett]

Smiling

[Dorylyn]

So beautiful.

[Diana B]

Oh, those bristlecones set your stuff off beautifully, and I envy hearing Neil Young in such a setting - wow! Just wow...

[Amy]

We are indeed blessed to live vicariously through you.....

[Jennnifer Thornton]

Absolutely beautiful

[Jacky Mcfarlane]

what a special spiritual place to spend with such a special person, hi dear friend...

[V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios]

Since I was a child, I've been drawn to trees. Like you, I live in a house tucked in the woods. My visits to the desert left me disturbed and unsettled because There Were No Trees and trees in some mystical way are my spirit animals. So I can imagine what this experience meant to you, how profound it was.

I'm also a huge Neil Young fan. His old stuff, his new stuff. He is an artist who is unafraid to experiment and create for the sake of creating and that's almost unheard of in the recording industry. Acoustic, punk, rock, country, Americana, electronic--he's done it all. His album Le Noise has a song on it called Someone's Gonna Rescue You. If you haven't heard it, find it on YouTube next time you're feeling you're at the bottom of the well. It is the best song for anyone who deals with depression.

[vickie]

Neil Young at sunset in such a beautiful setting--how awesome is that. Such beautiful, ancient tress that you communed with--what a rare and wonderful experience. To share it all with one's child....priceless. How lucky you are.
Vickie in kc

[Jillayne]

I can only imagine what a beautiful concert it would have been, with night settling all around you, and the moon rising. I like Neil Young's music too and can't imagine a more perfect setting.
As for the trees - I've never heard of them but am completely entranced now. Your photographs are so beautiful, and show how enduring and strong they are. Like your art Nina, in many ways and I think it was wonderful that you photographed some of your pieces with the trees. You may not have been happy about it at the time but I think some day you may be glad you did it. I am.

[sharon palac]

what a beautiful and sacred experience, and i'm sure those ancient trees enjoyed your adornments.

[hol]

Love too much Baaabe! Fill your soul, XOXO!

[fay beech]

Mmmmm, looks so nice. I have been to that arena in the rocks, it is a beautiful place. I love Colorado, unfortunately the altitude does not love me back. Have a great time there with your son.

[xo]

Ah. Humming Nina tunes to the bristlecone pines...life is good for you now. I like that very much---it makes me smile.

xo

[sandra]

Ancient rocks and ancient trees with visions and stories of past and present,,, how amazing this must have been! Thanks for sharing this beauty.

[Katey Deasy]

Your loving spirit singing to the giant ents is beautiful image. Thank you for sharing of your sacred time with Robin in this amazing place. It is spiritual times like this that keep us charged for the journey ahead. Love you dearly.

[Monica]

WOW! A Neil Young concert AND a special grove of beauteous, magnificent trees! This post is jam packed with much gorgeous imagery, whether by photo or by word...

I hear you in regard to photographing your work in such a setting and choosing to stop - I think both options make sense considering your amazing work in such a setting and your feelings toward Nature =-)

Thank you for a wonderful blog post Nina!

[Suzanne]

Thanks so much for sharing your photos and experiences in Colorado. Wonderful. I, too, love my phone cam. <3

[jen (littlepart)]

beautiful! your words, your spirit...you!

reading this was uplifting...you can hear the excitement in your voice...so glad you are enjoying your time in colorado and with robin...

[Marilyn Weyman Kegg]

Colorado is the home of my spirit. Concerts at Red Rocks with the city of Denver spread out like so many jeweled bracelets strewn across a glittering table. Cool, fresh air, majestic rocks glowing in the sunset. Thank you for taking me back to where I want to be and cannot for now.