Inspiration can always be found just steps from our studio. We sometimes find ourselves drifting over to catch our breath, and take in the work of talented artists that adorn the walls of the Lisa Sette Gallery. The current exhibition, Mark Klett: Border Markers, does not fail to inspire. His installation, Sunrise Sticks, reminds us that creativity and playfulness have a symbiotic relationship. You could spend hours examining the 8’ x 30’ wall of hand-made “artifacts” by the artist and still find surprises that delight. Klett crafted these sticks over a span of 20+ years, as part of a game he and friends invented to predict where the sun would rise in the morning – a subject of interest to landscape photographers. All 100 pieces were carved while sitting around a desert campfire at night, and adorned with objects he found during the day. Each piece tells a story of 100 different adventures, of exploration, and of humans leaving their mark on this Earth. Lucky for us, Klett has playfully turned garbage into gold. This exhibit inspires a camping trip, at the very least.

1. Sunrise Sticks, approximately 100 artifacts.
2. Fence separating the US/Mexico border south of the Gila Mountains, May 2015. Pigment print, edition of 20, available in three sizes: 23 x 30.5 inches, 26 x 35 inches, and 37.5 x 50 inches.