Located in an otherwise unremarkable expanse of desert landscape between the Sierra Nevada Range and Death Valley, the sign reads: “Darwin. Established 1874. Population: 50 or so. Elevation: 4750.”
Darwin
Two of the 50 residents, “Death Valley Dave” and “J,” pose with their rock art. Dave retrieves the discarded cores of rock that the local mine digs up, cuts them in slices and then polishes them into multi-colored flat discs. He calls them Earth Tokens. He gives them away, refusing to take money for them. He hopes the tokens will remind people to treat the Earth well. J carves designs into the colorful rocks he collects and then finishes the rocks with a “desert patina.” Here he shows a piece of basalt into which he’s carved an Irish knot. He plans some new designs that will incorporate ancient Navajo pictographs. J hopes to get enough money from his rock art to buy insurance for his truck.
Death Valley Dave and J
A Picture's Worth 
The last two posts didn’t open for me. I could read the text only…. ! Love ya, Chris (I didn’t call Will because I have completely booked this coming week and I imagine he is too overwhelmed to schedule too far out. Let me know, please, if there is any major change. Thank you.)
Hi Chris,
Thanks for telling me about not being able to open the posts. (sigh)