On a recent trip to Colorado, I made a point of visiting the “wild” donkey herd in the small mountain town of Cripple Creek. The donkeys have lived in the area since 1920’s when the gold mines there no longer needed them to haul ore and they were released into the wild. The townsfolk began taking care of them, providing food and shelter through the cold, high-altitude winters. The herd has grown over the years with the addition of rescue donkeys and every spring they are welcomed to roam the streets of Cripple Creek to celebrate their original release from the mines. This particular jenny (or female donkey) is nick-named “La Madre Superiora (The Mother Superior)” because she has given birth to 10 foals over the last 12 years. 36x48 in/91.5x122 cm. Encaustic, gouache, ink, pencil, fresco on wood panel. Available directly from the artist.