he carvings for the new organ for Pinnacle Presbyterian are based
on southwest Indian motifs realized in the classical European aesthetic of symmetry, motion, and proportion to harmonize the traditional structure of the pipe organ with the native surroundings. The main element in the design is the rain bird. Based on Hopi precendents, it is recognizable within the carvings as an inward curved head and beak with two large stylized feathers pointing upward. These elements were then combined to create the bulk of the carving you see. Also, keeping with the rain motif, are two rain serpents in san ildefonso tradition, at the top center of the organ on either side of the central star/sun. Almost forgotten, at the bottom of the four largest vertical posts are geckos, to symbolize the ground or earth. Most prominent, however, are the four large gilded circles with an anthropomorphic cartouche in the center. According to ancient church tradition, the four authors of the Gospels were represented by a symbol. Looking clockwise from the upper left corner, the man (Matthew), the lion (Mark), the eagle (John), and the donkey (Luke) are based on Indian concepts of design and form, mostly seen in pottery. In the rectangular ‘boxes’ below the groupings of smaller pipes are again found feathers from the rain bird. This time they are overlaid with one of the four Hebrew letters constituting the name of God Yahweh (Jehovah): yud hey vahv hey also known as the tetragrammaton. These can be read starting in the upper right hand corner and going in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, the rays of sun and God are both above all things while God himself is IN all things.