Painting The Desert
Exploring the Outskirts of the Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation has been hit hard by Covid-19.  In the initial plan of this trip, which was thought up before the pandemic hit, included a stay at a Navajo “Hogan” or yáʼátʼééh–a traditional and primitive home with a dirt floor, no running water and, I am sure, dark undeveloped skies. I was so excited to have booked a night in the heart of the Navajo country and looked forward to meeting my host and exploring the many cultural sites within its boundaries.  Unfortunately the Nation’s borders are, in effect, closed.  Besides the stay at the yáʼátʼééh, I had also booked tours to explore the breathtaking upper and lower Antelope Canyon.  Though I don’t usually do the tour thing, these were run by the Navajos, whom I wanted to support and whom I trusted would convey a perspective of reverence and respect.  But all tribal sites are closed and fenced off.

I was able to pull off to stop at the many murals on the Nation’s border. Painting the Desert is compilation of street art within the desert’s striking landscape.

I’m not going to call it Forrest Gump Hill, though some do. It’s the stretch of highway in Monument Valley on the Utah/Arizona/Navajo Nation border where the running Forrest stops and says to his hoard of followers, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.”  But more so it is the iconic view long-admired iconic view of the Southwest and–officially, it is on Navajo land.  It’s pretty breathtaking.