Located on the Colorado River in Arizona, Glen Canyon Dam was built to provide hydroelectricity and flow regulation from the upper river basin to the lower. Completed in 1966, it formed Lake Powell, the second largest man-made lake in the United States. However, the destruction of the ecosystem in the Colorado River below dramatically altered the landscape where the Navajo people farmed and herded. In addition, the creation of Lake Powell flooded many sacred sites.
Stating that he was "not a landscape artist," Rockwell decided to humanize this work by featuring a Navajo family contemplating the project's impact on indigenous people. The artist and his wife Molly drove to Black Mesa in search of models, where they met and photographed the John Lane family and their horse. Rockwell completed the painting at his Stockbridge studio using the sketches and reference photographs that had been gathered, including images of the Dam and Lake Powell taken from the canyon rim, from an airplane, and from a boat. Now on loan to the Norman Rockwell Museum, Rockwell's finished painting first went on display at the Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center in the summer of 1970, where it was viewed by many travelers to the site.
Quality
Norman Rockwell Museum Custom Prints offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in the collections and exhibitions of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Hand-made in the USA using gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.Selection
Many of the works offered through this store are exclusive and not available anywhere else. We are continually adding new artworks to our offering, so be sure to check back regularly as you build your own gallery. A variety of molding styles means our custom framed prints can match any type of decor.