They Help Each Other- Animal Stack- Multi colored patina

The four animals in Melanie Yazzie's "Animal Stack- They Help Each Other" hold significant meaning for the artist, symbolizing personal and cultural histories, while celebrating the coexistence of animals in nature. The bird, a representation of a red-winged black bird, marks the arrival of spring and the felt sense of joy as we transition out of the cold winter. The bear embodies strength, and acts as a stand-in for the artist's childhood teddy bear, a companion throughout her early youth. The deer, or elk, announces fall, bringing with it the elk's mating call and a communal gathering. The bottom animal, a dog or coyote, portrays the trickster or teacher. Ever-present in the artist's life in Colorado, and a prominent character featured in stories told to her in her youth, the coyote plays a vital role in bringing balance to rural and urban ecosystems through hunting.