Kirk Gittings
“Threatening Storm, New Alto, Chaco Canyon” (1982)
Archival Ink Print
Gift of the Artist
Capitol Art Collection
Capitol Art Foundation
Threatening Storm, New Alto, Chaco Canyon is a black-and-white archival ink print capturing the dramatic interplay between the ancient ruins of New Alto and an impending storm. Located in Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Alto is one of the many “Great Houses” constructed by the Ancestral Puebloans between 850 and 1250 AD.
Gittings’ photograph emphasizes the spiritual and temporal dimensions of the landscape, portraying the ruins under a sky filled with ominous clouds. This imagery reflects the photographer’s interest in the mythological and symbolic aspects of the American Southwest’s landscapes.
The photograph is part of Gittings’ broader project, Chaco Body, a collaboration with poet V.B. Price. This work combines visual and literary arts to explore the sacredness and historical significance of Chaco Canyon.
About the Artist: Kirk Gittings
Born in 1950 in the Alaska Territory, Kirk Gittings has been a resident of New Mexico for over five decades. He began his journey in photography in 1970, studying at the University of New Mexico and later earning an MFA from the University of Calgary in 1983. Gittings has established himself as a prominent architectural photographer, with his commercial work featured on over 150 magazine covers and in 95 books. His fine art photography is represented in 27 museum, corporate, and public institutional collections, and he has participated in over 120 exhibitions.
In addition to his photographic pursuits, Gittings has contributed to the academic field as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico and as faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His accolades include a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and recognition by the New Mexico State Legislature for his life’s work.
