Winds of Change  oil, 9 by 12 inches on archival canvas panel, was finished May 16, 2005. It is the fifteenth painting in my series titled Unforgettable. Prior to WWII, life on the rez had been pretty much the same for a very long time, but following the war, change came rapidly to the Navajos. Due to the remarkable contribution the Code Talkers made in the Pacific, Americans had become interested in this nation- within-a-nation, that had saved them from the Japanese by their indecipherable language. Along with this interest came tourism, money, and progress, with inevitable change. Before long, horses and wagons would be replaced by cowboy hats and pick-up trucks and their iconic outfits would be largely reserved for ceremonial events. This young woman, swept by these winds of change, continues to embrace the traditions of her past while proudly facing a brighter future. © 2005 John Watt  artist retains all rights to any reproductions of this original art.