The Horse and the Moon: El Caballo ey La Luna

A series of paintings as prayers asking for power. It was once said to me that we are not the rulers of this planet, nor are we simply living on this planet. We ARE this planet, as every living thing IS this planet. This planet is one continuous life form supported by the many millions of harmonious relationships between living beings, whether it be bird, fish, animal, plant, mineral and every thing in-between. I first heard this by a biologist and molecular chemist in my Biology 101 when attaining my B.F.A. What struck me so warmly by his remark was the word, “relationships.” In this continent the Native Americans , as well as many current Equestrians, acknowledge that their relationship with the horse is not based on a knowledge of how to control the power of such a graceful being, but of forming an alliance, a relationship of mutual admiration. Another word for this is Friendship. For the American Indians, The Horse was a nation of beings with powers, such as speed and strength that when an alliance was formed with, allowed the American Natives to accomplish efforts that without that relationship, would have taken much longer to accomplish, or perhaps could not have been done. In this series of paintings, I am asking that the Spirit of the Horse, come and lend me her and his powers to earn my black belt in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu. That they assist me to develop more strength and confidence in my rock climbing preparations for ascending El Capitan, the 3,400 wall in Yosemite. I expect that I will receive this strength from the Spirit of the Horse in the same way that many believe that God sends human looking angels to aid them.

We are not alone on this earth. And this gives me great encouragement. The Earth is one continuous world of millions of nations of living beings all supporting each other. If I have a responsibility to the Earth I believe that it is to find my place in the stream of life, and to know when I can ask my God for assistance from any of my fellow nations of living beings, and then to respectfully ask, feeling confident that it will come to be.

The Horse and the Moon Series is a group of prayers acknowledging my brothers and sisters, the Horse Nation, asking them to lend me their power of spirit to accomplish things that I might otherwise feel overwhelmed to do on my own. It is my wish, in this exhibition, that you might be open to believe that some of that power to accomplish the huge things in your life, is yours for the asking.

I wish you Love and Success.

Steve Brummé