Talking to the Rain: Jornada Mogollon and the Rio Grande Tradition

Explores ancient dialogue between desert farmers and the cosmos

In this visually stunning volume, Polly Schaafsma, leading authority on pre-Hispanic Indian rock imagery and kiva murals of the greater American Southwest, provides an insightful journey into the petroglyphs and rock paintings of the Jornada Mogollon farmers in southern New Mexico's lower Chihuahuan Desert.

Talking to the Rain defines the Rio Grande Tradition, emphasizing the foundational Jornada Style as exemplified by its Mimbres-like imagery as well as its diverse and complex rain-making symbolism. By examining visual metaphors of cosmology and place-making, the book reveals an ancient dialogue between farmers and the cosmos that places rain for crops as its central concern. Exceptional color photographs by François Gohier invite readers to experience the landscapes and locations selected for creating these images. Both scholarly and accessible, Talking to the Rain offers a fresh perspective on cultural landscapes and the profound connections between people, art, and environment, making it essential for understanding Southwest cultural history.

Polly Schaafsma is an archaeologist with a specialty in ancient Native American rock art and kiva murals. She has published ten books and monographs as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters. She is the recipient of numerous awards as well as honorary degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of New Mexico.

A professional photographer for the past five decades, François Gohier was the sole photographer for Steven Simms’ book Traces of Fremont. François is a member of the American Rock Art Research Association, the Utah Rock Art Research Association, and the San Diego Rock Art Association. In 2015 he was presented with the Oliver Award from the ARARA for “Excellence in the Art & Science of Rock Art Photography.”