Oasis 

This is Joshua LaRock’s painting, "Oasis,” portraying a moment of respite in a stark landscape. Born in 1982, LaRock’s work often evokes a sense of timelessness, but here the cowboy figure, the horse, and the watering hole become emblems of American identity and the mythology of the West. But how do we understand this scene in a more complex way? The cowboy, often idealized as a symbol of rugged individualism, also represents a history of land appropriation and the displacement of indigenous peoples. The vast, open landscape, while beautiful, is a reminder of the environmental impact of cattle ranching. The painting invites us to consider the narratives we tell ourselves about freedom and self-reliance, set against a backdrop of complex social and ecological realities. It is in these tensions that "Oasis" becomes more than just a picturesque scene; it becomes an invitation to reflect on the narratives and lived experience of the American West.