Lot Essay
The artist writes of the present work, "Mesa Vista Moonrise was one of a series of ponds that had been developed along the Canadian River at the southern end of the Ogallala Aquifer. Experiencing the Hunter’s Moon was a pivotal part of our stay at [Pickens' Mesa Vista Ranch] as it provided a wonderful, if somewhat romantic backdrop for the autumn landscape. I often felt the ghosts of past inhabitants as we explored that ranch with the rich diversity of wildlife sustained by the river and aquifer."