| Artist Bio: Kathy Cooney and her family reside in Moab, Utah. Prior to Moab, Kathy Cooney lived in Alaska for nine years where her art skills evolved from technical pencil work to moderately abstract watercolors. Kathy Cooney paintings began to reflect her surroundings as she realized that the rocks, mountains, water and trees were not separate entities, but all connected to the same heart of the scene. In 1987, Kathy Cooney moved to the southwest. There Kathy Cooney fell in love with another type of beauty in the canyons, red rock and desert views, along with the timeless heritage that evolved in the four corners area. Best known for her watercolors of the area, Kathy’s abstract realism lends itself well to the rock formations and ancient Indian ruins of this region. Kathy Cooney images are not depiction’s of any specific rock art panel yet represent some of the variety in image and style found in the southwest. Images such as the flute playing Kokopelli, handprints and spirals have continuity through time and culture, that is, they were utilized by peoples of different cultures, areas and periods in time. We cannot assume, however, that these symbols always convey the same message. Anthropomorphs, or human-like images, may be symbolic of a ritualistic or ceremonial function or may be simplistic and universal such as waving hand in greeting. It would be a mistake to assume interpretation from our modern perspective. What was truly meant by these messages is probably forever lost and therefore open to individual interpretation and speculation, thus perpetuating the mystique of these prehistoric images.
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