"My artwork addresses spiritual portals and sacred spaces based on personal experiences within Native American and non-Native Spiritual Ceremonies." - Steve Willis

The images attempt to capture the complexity of spiritual knowledge in a simple and direct manner.  The color, shapes, and symbols are significant and are used in the artwork to develop a visual vocabulary between people.  Although some Native people may use colors, shapes and symbols differently, for me the four colors: blue, red, black, and white represent the Four Directions and the corresponding Gateway Guardians (Angels).  Additionally, the close relationship of red and blue, and black and white is very important: blue represents divinity (listening), red represents prayer (talking), black represents emotion (heart), and white represents intellect (mind).  When the four directions converge there is a spiritual conversation between divinity and humanity.

(Obelisk Home is in Springfield, Missouri.  If you're in that neck of the woods, we strongly recommend that you check out this exhibition -- and tell Steve we said hello!)