A slot canyon is basically a baby canyon – they start as a crack in the sandstone that slowly widens and deepens with each rain. Heavy rains produce flash floods and eventually the crack becomes deep and wide enough that one can explore inside. Because the water erodes the bottom of the ever-evolving canyon more than the top, the canyon takes on a cathedral-like feel – wider at the bottom and narrow at the top – almost like a cave with cracks in the ceiling. On the desert’s surface, only a crack in the ground can be seen, but far below is an abstract wonderland – light bouncing through the carved wonders of erosion.

While exploring this abstract wonderland, I was mesmerized by the colors and complete tonal contrasts of this fragile scene. The delicate u-shape seems to suggest that of a graceful vessel– thus the title, Vase.