The Dry Heat Gallery is very pleased to be graced with the presence of the one and only Robert Medina Cook!  Rick and I have long been fans of Robert’s work but somehow managed never to meet him in person until just recently.   When Robert came by the gallery to drop off his prints, what should have been a ten minute meeting turned into a 3 hour conversation. It was just like we had all known each other forever.  Despite the fact that our photography is quite different from Robert’s he has a way of explaining his work that very closely mirrors the way we approach our work.  One topic in particular that Robert hit on is that his primary concern is in the final product.  Creating an image that allows the subject to speak to the viewer is his art form and when questioned about his process Robert’s response is “what difference does it make?”  Obviously a response like that could be interpreted in a number of different ways but I took it to mean to that it is not the process that determines whether the finished piece will be effective, it is the intention put into the work that breathes life into art. To learn more Robert Medina Cook visit his website by clicking here.

Robert’s signed and numbered, limited edition, prints can now be viewed and purchased from the Dry Heat Gallery.

In Memory of Raven

April 5, 1995 to April 12, 2009

Rick and I only met Raven a couple of times and even in these brief encounters he touched our lives.  To know Raven is to know that he was an exceptional being who was able to bridge the chasm between man and wolf and rebuild the relationship between the two.  Raven lived most of his life as the chief Ambassador Wolf at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary.  His best friend was Leyton Cougar and the two of them worked side by side for many years to improve public education about wolves.  Raven passed away this morning in Leyton’s arms. He was 14 years old. This is nearly double the average life span of a wild wolf and, while it is very sad for all of us who will miss him, we must take heart in the fact that Raven completed the work he came here to do and his spirit is now uninhibited as it was always meant to be.  Run free dear friend, we will miss you.

Most sincerely,

-DeAnna Dimmitt and Rick Meiers

Dry Heat Photography

Our last images of Leyton and Raven together.  March 5, 2009

A couple weeks ago, on March 5th, Rick and I made another trip out to Candy Kitchen to visit our friends at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary.  As always, Executive Director Leyton Cougar, escorts us around on our photo tour.  There is something really magical about visiting this place.  The animals are exceptionally well cared for and it’s clear that they all LOVE Leyton. This is our third trip out to photograph the wolves and it gets better every time.  I really never expected to actually interact with a wolf, much less to be licked in the face.  Wolves are sensitive and intelligent and, though they do exhibit some dog-like behavior, it is very obvious when you make eye contact with a wolf that it is certainly not a dog! The Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that operates entirely on donations.  The sanctuary serves two purposes; to care for wolves and wolf-dogs that have been rescued from various situations and cannot live in the wild, and to educate the public that wolves must never be kept as pets. Let me put that a different way – wolves make very terrible pets.  A good deal of the animals at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary were rescued from people who tried, unsuccessfully, to keep them as pets.

To Leyton and everyone at the sanctuary, Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us and for helping us to get these awesome photographs!

-DeAnna Dimmitt and Rick Meiers

Dry Heat Photography

One of the newest residents at the sanctuary is Romeo the Red Fox.  Romeo came from a zoo that was down sizing and when Leyton saw him he just had to do something so he and the crew built Romeo his very own, extra special, fox enclosure.  Romeo is incredibly friendly.  He is very cat-like in the way that he moves and he loves to play.  I also did not realize that foxes have a scent gland similar to, though considerably less potent than, a skunk.  When they get excited the air gets fragrant!  Romeo is the most awesome little creature.  I love him!

This is Brutus

Brutus has a very noticeable and endearing snaggle-tooth

Rick and Lucian

Raven

Leyton and Raven have a very special wolf/human bond.  It’s touching to see them together.

Raven came to the sanctuary in 1997.  For nine years he was the public face of the sanctuary, making numerous public appearances with Leyton to educate the public about wolf conservation and, again, about not keeping wolves as pets.  Raven is now retired and continues to live peacefully with his mate, Cheyenne, at the sanctuary. To learn more about Raven click here.

This is Dakota.

This is Sugar

Sugar is a little cross-eyed

This is Teton