2016 Winter Solstace - Blue Heron

In Bluff, UT, they built two blue herons. The herons were constructed over the past 2 months by Bluff artist Joe Pachak with as many as 50 helpers. The towering birds were made primarily of local willow and sage and when completed, were surrounded by a soft nest of willows. The one bird was 35 feet tall and a nest made for them.

The wooden sculptures are lit with atl-atls, an ancient technology used in hunting by earlier paleolithic inhabitants in the area. This year, a few young kids had the honor of throwing the first flaming spears to light the birds.

Just when that was beginning to happen, everyone rushed up to the lanterns on the ground to watch the throwing. Then I had to readjust the positioning as not having wide enough a lens for the close-up position.

A couple more showing the collapse of the large head and then everyone walking or dancing around the end of the fire.