The "Crosswalks" portray stories of birds, animals and reptiles symbolic to the Cahuilla tribe's life and lore, with meaning relevant to present time as well.
Within each picture plane, a mandala provides us entrance and a shaman's hand holds the sign or "title" translated from the Cahuilla which describes the legendary world of each presented creature, such as: the "Tortoise coming to Earth in a whirlwind creating the first humans"; "Gecko giving shape to human's hand"; the "Snake woven in basket"; the "Roadrunner as spirit of enterprise"; "Mountain sheep is seen between Heaven and Earth"; as he loses ground underfoot the "Rabbit runs" collecting cactus flowers in the native "Burden Basket"; while "The lion suggests ultimate power" and finally, LaQuinta's symbolic figurehead, "Beadle's Qual" is Gem of the Desert.
This project was completed in August 2002.
