Keeper of the Skies Print

I was commissioned to do a temporary wall mural for a local bank under reconstruction. They wanted something that would represent Wichita, Kansas. Something that would show the spirit of the city. Not being a native of Kansas but having lived in Wichita for a little over 20 years, I believe the three best things that represented Wichita were the original Wichitians (The Native Americans that were known as The Wind People), its current moniker of "Air Capital of the World" with at least 6 aircraft manufacturers, and the tremendous colorful sunsets and exciting thunderstorms I have experienced over the years on the flight line and while driving about Wichita in the early evenings. The original legend of the Keeper of the Plains (by artist Blackfoot) had prayed to the wind God to save his people from starvation that they were experiencing and his request was granted by turning him and his people into the buffaloes to feast upon the unlimited rolling grasslands during the famine period. I was one of the flight line aircraft workers to be laid off during the Great Layoffs of 2009. Thus, I hope that our Keeper of the Plains, would offer his prayer to save this town of 500,000 aircraft workers by turning us into planes to fly around in the colorful skies over Wichita.