DE GRAZIA-MUENCH SUPERSTITIONS

THE SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN

To me, the Superstition Mountain is full of mystery and intrigue. She is the most beautiful mountain in the whole world. The more you see her, the more attractive and magnificent she will become. Soon you will succumb to her, and she will possess you completely. Then she will own you, because your thoughts will always be with her and you will want to be close to her. You will feel that you are in a monastery surrounded by never-ending cathedral canyons. You will remember that the poet has paid homage, ballads have been sung, writers for years have been telling her legend, the artist has captured the many moods of these mountains.

As the night comes upon you, the heavens will be sprinked with jewel-like stars, and she, with mother-like assurance, ever so gently, will waft you away into your dreams, far away.

The Embracing Volcanic Walls Of Peralta Canyon – Superstition Mountain Wilderness

The Superstition Mountain is not only rich in gold, she is also rich in legends. A true story becomes a legend when the facts have been obscured and lost. As time goes on, the legend becomes so legendary that the story-tellers become lost in a mist; the picture will be out of focus, but they will believe in the legend. One look at the Superstition Mountain tells me that these legends are very real. She is a big beautiful mountain, guarding her gold. It is the nature of man to hunt, to search; his mind is made of dreams. So forever he searches and searches, until the end of his dreams.

The Superstition Mountain is a perfect setting for legends, a perfect place to sit around a campfire, a good place for hiding, a good place to be lost, a good place to dream about gold.

She likes dreams. She likes legends. She guards her gold.

Chapel Of The Holy Cross - Sedona EARL PETROFF Green and Serene are the Pastures - Sedona EARL PETROFF

One of the world's most beautiful scenic areas is Oak Creek Canyon, so named for Oak Creek, which must be the most spectacularly exquisite creek on this or any other planet. Creeks have a “personality” attuned to their environment. There are lazy creeks such as meander through the grassy marshlands of the plains country. There are gay, colorful little-girl creeks that hop, skip and leap eagerly over Wabash and Ohio bottomlands. There are burly, rollicking creeks boisterously proclaiming their right to drift along down south with old grand daddy Mississippi. Yes there are creeks and there are creeks but one creek “has it all in one package.” Oak Creek, the incomparable creek conceived in thunder heads and born high in the mountains at the head of Oak Creek Canyon. Before it settles down to a meandering crawl deep in the Valley, the young creek has jubilantly trickled, tumbled, plunged and leaped its way over, through and under more diversified splendor James Goodwin Scott, St. Louis, Mo. is an accomplished water-color painter, with a special mastery of water moods. Here he has captured Oak Creek dashing its way through a maze of multi-sized boulders.

than any other creek; gurgling, singing and dancing its merry happy way to Sterling Spring where it is wed to the waiting waters from Spring and together they unknowingly become a vital part of the ecosystem by hatching Rainbow Trout eggs which have been deposited there by the Sterling Spring Fish Hatchery men. Later, from the cool crystal currents of lower Oak Creek, come some of Arizona's most highly prized trout dinners.

A drop of rain formed uniquely, distantly, plunges freely and persistently to the earth accompanied by light shows and orchestration. A fern, beautifully shaped, gracefully swaying and dancing arms open to embrace, face to its sun, waits. The celestial band rumbles and flashes; the earth applauds with thrill and delight and thirst for more. The heavenly performers come down to greet the terrestrial audience; there is flash, rumble, thrill, increased applause; many greetings between the celestial and terrestrial, handshakes, slaps on the back, kisses, embraces. And a beautiful raindrop meets on expectant fern; perfectly they meet, and touch, and dance, and caress, and embrace, and smile. And there is lightening, thunder, baptism, spirit, and new life between a raindrop and a beautiful fern. - Fr. Ed Fronske, ofm (Oak Creek Canyon, during a storm; 24 July 1971)

A TRIBUTE FROM THE PEERS OF ARIZONA'S FOURTH ESTATE

Reprinted from Vol. 4, No. 3Spring 1972 "The Arizona Journalist" - Published and distributed to Arizona journalists by the Arizona Journalism Institute

JOURNAL

In a very real sense, Ted De Grazia's field is communication. This is why the Arizona Journalist magazine feels especially honored by an original cover drawn by Arizona's most famous living artist.

Ettore (Ted) De Grazia, son of a Territorial mining family from Morenci, overcame a language handicap to earn three degrees in art and music from the University of Arizona.

Along the way, his brush began to speak for the Indians of Arizona, in the subtle pastels of the high desert country that he roamed. He became a blood brother of the Yaqui.

Worldwide critics praise De Grazia's "delicacy of technique and sweeping action set into motion by masterful brush strokes." The public paid him another form of tribute: his work sells.

Through it all, however, De Grazia has remained the bearded wanderer, tolerant of critic and admirer, finding an artist's solitude in building his workshop with his own hands, and seeking the counsel of Indian friends.

De Grazia's latest project is a wordand-picture Chronicle of the Superstition Mountains. After years of exploring, he has woven the legends into a book. - George Ridge Editor's Note: Ted De Grazia asked us not to "advertise" his latest book, "De Grazia and His Mountain - The Superstition" due to his usual limited edition policy. We have learned from past experiences with De Grazia publications; so, to take the pressure from our staff and postal resources... PLEASE address all communications regarding De Grazia's book to: Gallery In The Sun, 6300 North Swan, Tucson, Arizona 85718. The 60-page, hard bound, approximately 9" x 12" book is profusely illustrated in color and monotones. The price is outrageously low . . . $12.50 per copy, postpaid.

Right - DAVID MUENCH

The following poem originally appeared in "Timberline," house organ of Southwest Forest Industries, of which Clayton Arnold is Manager of Communications and Publications.

Be Thankful, My Brothers

Look around you, my brothers. What do you see? Pollution, inflation, drugs, crime and poverty? Yes, these confront us but take a good look Past murky waters to the depths of the brook. What lies there below is goodness and hope challength and chances, not reasons to mope.

There are trees, streams, many a hill and dale, Sounds of man's progress, a newborn baby's wail. We've the right to protest, vote and to speak. To walk our own paths each day of the week. Yet life isn't all roses, on this we'll agree. But who'll make it better, if not you and me?

"It's all in your outlook," a wiseman once said. So if you don't like it, help remake the bed. Seek out the truths, the wonders of our land. Love it. Cherish it. And lend it your hand. Be thankful, my brothers. We're truly blessed. Bow down. Praise God. And give life your best. - Clayton Arnold The photographic expertise of David Muench and the imaginative artistry of Ted De Grazia are a rare and precious combination of God-given talents. No matter what others think we choose to believe that it was Divine guidance that brought them to our attention in the same mail bag as we were planning this September magazine.

David Muench's photographs, more than any we have heretofore seen, have captured the mood of seemingly impenetrable mystery of the Superstitions. They are there massive, powerful, waiting for what may be another fact to be lost in the misty, craggy, depths of a domain already more legend than any mass of rock on earth.

David Muench and Ted De Grazia have come out of the Superstitions with a treasure worth ten times the Dutchman's gold.

Nature holds a singular communion with those who seek the platonic love of her visible forms in the pure sobriety of primal wilderness.

Many of David Muench's photographs of Bristlecone Pine which appeared in the January 1971 ARIZONA HIGHWAYS are reproduced in a magnificent new book titled "Timberline Ancients." The 128-page, Charles H. Belding publication, is lavishly illustrated with more than one-hundred 4-color photographs, by David Muench. Text by Darwin Lambert, a seasoned professional, spotlights the significance of the oldest living trees on earth.

The text and photographs blend to express the "bristlecone experience in all its fresh magnificence and its suspenseful unfoldings.

Available only from book stores. . . Hard cover only, $19.00.