Artist’s Comments: In August 1988 I spent time in the Bear Tooth Pass, a mountain range overlooking the northern part of Yellowstone Park. While hiking during the day we could see (when the smoke shifted) fires burning everywhere. At night the fires were as beautiful as they were merciless. From one spot on the mountain, the night appeared as a huge black auditorium lit by a thousand candles. During this time I was introduced to some Plains Indians (Sioux and Blackfeet) who, for six days, taught me their beliefs. This painting represents what I learned. It represents the quiet acceptance of all circumstances in life. Throughout the fire, the many herds of buffalo grazed peacefully in and out of the smoke. None ran in panic, rather they conveyed a sense of total acceptance. The peace, strength and beauty juxtaposed against the black relentlessness of the fire was very dramatic and affected me deeply.
About the Artist: Bonnie Marris has taken an unusual path into art; she developed her talent by portraying animals “from the inside out.” While she was a student at Michigan State University, Bonnie illustrated several major books. One volume she worked on was a leading expert’s mammalogy text that contained several hundred drawings and detail studies. This massive project attracted the attention of noted zoologist George Schaller, who invited Bonnie to prepare the art for posters that would support his worldwide rare animal relief programs. In addition to her accomplished skill at rendering her subjects and evident affinity for the wild, Marris’ painting requires frequent and substantive field experience.
; "New Beginnings by Bonnie Marris")