Gerlach K-12 Workshop organized by Rachel Stiff

After completing my mural Ancient Geometries in partnership with the Gerlach Mural Project—drawing inspiration from the vast desert landscape and the dark skies overhead—I was invited to work with K–12 students in Gerlach for the Honeycomb Project. I shared stories about the Black Rock Desert’s protected night skies and the annual Perseid meteor showers that light up their hometown each August, inspiring us to create “mini galaxies” through simple painting techniques. As students blended layers of color to craft vibrant, swirling forms, they learned essential skills in color mixing and composition resulting in abstract works that reflect the landscape and skyscape they know so well. In a setting defined by open space and silence, our collaborative hexagon paintings became both personal expressions and a collective gesture of connection, with each student’s galaxy becoming part of a shared constellation. - Rachel Stiff