Clearing rain clouds, Mid Hills
The desert floor looks like an old skyline as misty white clouds rise from its base (above). The
clearing rain giving us a sense of completion and yet Burkhart captures the moment again as an
action shot. Even in the peace of the desert after the storm, there is a danger. A dark cloud hangs
over the swirling wispy clouds that surround the peak like pollution in an industrial cityscape.
Ingrained in his DNA Burkhart waits for the perfect light to capture road signs (right - upper). The
rays of the sun just over the horizon glow red like his humanmade lights. The road signs appear
as they too are on a stage, waiting to perform, maybe for the conductor. The red theme continues
in sunset shots and his use of mirrors on the Kelso Dunes (cover). Here the three buttons are like
those on carnival clown’s belly. Perhaps we are a young child looking up at the clown, or maybe we
are the clown looking down at our stomach. We almost expect red shoes to appear on the horizon
or a red nose to rise and sniff the air.
Boca-lights appear in cholla cactus (right - lower), a reflecting pond romances a ranch (page 12)
and windows to the Milky Way through hole in the wall (page 13) round out this exhibition.
8
THE DESERT LIGHT
| Sept/Oct 2018