“May I honor you, Grandfather?”. Grandfather Saguaro shows a centuries-old saguaro cactus standing majestically under the brilliant Milky Way at Bartlett Lake, Arizona. In this powerful night sky photograph, Carla Meeske captures a big saguaro who holds memories of generations, dating back to the Hohokam people who once inhabited this sacred desert landscape. The towering cactus is a living monument to the resilience of Sonoran Desert life, its massive arms reaching toward our galaxy’s colorful core. This meaningful astro image holds the spiritual connection between ancient desert guardians and cosmic beauty. The image was created with offerings to the Spirits of the Land. Perfect for collectors who appreciate the intersection of indigenous heritage and Southwest night photography, this fine art metal print brings the wisdom and protection of Arizona’s most iconic desert elders into your space.

Artist’s Story

Majestically overlooking Bartlett Lake, Grandfather holds the memories of generations, going back to the Hohokam. “May I honor you, Ancient One?” As I prepared for this shoot, I made an offering to the Spirits of the Land, and then looked down to find large pottery sherds that I had not noticed before. I felt their smile. This cactus is on the lake shore side of the road in an area that is lush. On the other side is a wash that had several saguaros that were as big or bigger. After shooting Grandfather I decided to come back later to get pictures of the others.. but later didn’t come before the 2024 fires. These giant elders are precious. Honor them while you can. Share a drink with their roots, and thank the Spirits of the Land for protecting them. It might be the thing that saves them when the dreaded fires come.

Print and Edition Information

Available in ChromaLuxe Semi Gloss Metal, Matte P99 Acrylic or Fine Art Paper. Digitally signed with Certificate of Authenticity.
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Edition

: Open Edition