Wooden Lizzars

Jake Gatehouse

Muley Point

Muley Point is like nowhere I have been before, the grandeur and spectacle was quite overwhelming to begin with, and I was slightly worried about how to start and respond creatively to it, as it such an extremely different and unfamiliar environment. I deliberately started off with taking an intuitive photoshoot, as I walked along the gnarled, rocky cliff edge, processing and becoming accustom to the harsh and vast environment. On this first day working independently I found a nice smooth platform with a few shady spots right on the edge of the cliff, looking into the valley below. It was here where I decided to create a small representation of a Lizard out of drift wood scattered along Muley point. The lizards of Muley Point would often scuttle out from the rocks as I walked along were nice little companions throughout the day and thought it would be fun. I quickly and roughly placed scraps of wood in a VERY abstract reptilian form and the lizard was finished. Perched on the edge of the cliff, looking out. Chillin.

The next day I was very surprised to see that this lizard had survived the windy nights that are inevitably when elevated 5715 feet. There it was, still as ever, basking in the blistering sun. The spot where the lizard lay became a temporary studio and I returned there every day, spending time to understand where I was, to become familiar. I conducted more experiments with rope, charcoal and photography and film at this spot, along with these ink drawings using the pipet that came with the ink bottle and spread them out and left them there until the end of the trip. I would eventually animate this lizard in stop motion animation towards the end of the week. It was a very fun, productive and HOT week at Muley. It was a good introduction to the trip, trying things out and overcoming that initial overwhelmed feeling!