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All of the works that artist Roger Allen created were made on the potter’s wheel, airbrushed, and then hand painted. Each one is unique.
Allen came up with the StarKeeper story in the 1990's and created an entire series of plates based around it. He said: "Inspired by Native American mythologies and imagery, the StarKeeper gathers all the night’s stars and hides them among the cactus and rocks, covering them with the moon and protecting them all day long...Until sunset, when he hangs them back into the dusk, one or two or three at a time.
The StarKeeper goes about his duties with diligence and love for all things in the earth and sky. Each plate is representative of a piece of the story or responsibility of the StarKeeper."
In "StarKeeper Drumming Up the Animal Spirits", the spirit of a coyote appears in the sky, summoned by the StarKeeper. The StarKeeper was often seen looking into the sky at the animal spirit clouds, and he chanted to all the animal spirits as they danced across the sky.