17th Annual Escalante Canyons Art Festival Returns
– By James McFadden –
SOUTHERN UTAH — The 17th Annual Escalante Canyons Art Festival runs from Tuesday, September 14, starting off with the first of several painting workshops offered during the week and concludes on Sunday, September 25th, with a final art sale and breakfast at Escalante Outfitters. The 2021 festival committee is happy to organize and facilitate its return after a one-year hiatus due to Covid-19. In order to minimize Covid risk to our local communities, artists, vendors, and all festival attendees, all activities have been moved outdoors and the most current CDC COVID-prevention recommendations will be followed.
This art gathering is one of the premier events in Southern Utah and has Plein Air Artists painting throughout three counties – Wayne, Garfield, and Kane. The program this year is full of creative activities, educational programs, great fun, and live entertainment.
What lovelier canvas could one wish for? Vast beautiful public lands: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSEMN), Dixie National Forest, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and several Utah State Parks surround the town of Escalante on Scenic Byway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks. As you travel throughout the region you are likely to see artists creating works en plein air (a French term which means “in full air”), inspired by these world-renowned landscapes.
PLEIN AIR COMPETITION: Plein-air artists creating works in oil, pastel, watercolor, or mixed media work across the three-county region to compete for prizes valued at more than $10,000. Artists of all abilities, experience levels, and ages are encouraged to join the competition. A special category with cash awards provides an incentive for young artists to participate. Artworks entered in the competition categories will be on exhibit and for sale September 24-25 in the Plein Air Exhibit Tent in the City Park.
WORKSHOPS: Several talented artists are slated to teach workshops beginning September 14 and going into the following week. Workshops range from watercolor painting to nature journaling to creating woodcut prints.
DEMONSTRATIONS and HANDS-ON ART ACTIVITIES: There are too many single and group demonstrations and hands-on activities being provided to list them all. Check the festival website for details on all the opportunities:
- Hand-mulled watercolor pigments
- Nocturne painting
- Silk painting
- Watercolor basics
- Acrylic pours
- Abstract painting approaches
- Mixed media landscapes
- Continuous line drawing
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: This year’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Plein Air Artist-in-Residence is Günther Haidenthaller of Alpine, Utah. During the month of September, he will be exploring the Monument while also finding time to conduct public and school programs. The results of his residency will be exhibited and for sale September 24-25 in the City Park.
ROVING TALKS: Our annual Speaker’s Series is being replaced this year with a Roving Talks program. It runs from September 15 through September 25. These programs are limited to set numbers of participants. Please see the festival website to RSVP. Roving Talk leaders and programs include:
- Christa Sadler: Phipps Arch Exploration Hike and Hoodoo Voodoo: An Exploration of Escalante’s Very Own Hoodoos
- Bob Stevenson: 20 Mile Dinosaur Track Site – Tracks Across Time
- Carolyn Shelton: Observing Nature Through Simple Journaling – Words, Sketches, Painting
- Alan Titus: Cretacious Era Paleontology
- Cindy Calbaum: Trees of the Escalante Mountains
- Larry Barnes: Historic Walking Tour of Escalante
LIVE MUSIC: Musicians from near and far will entertain festival-goers September 24-25 on the City Park Stage. Musicians will include: Matt Burke, The Earth Picks, Patrice Webb, Salt Gulch All-Stars, Amber, Julia Cozby, and The Fab Folk
And if all that wasn’t enough, the festival also includes an Arts and Crafts Fair with many artists and craftspeople from the Intermountain West selling their wares; open studios, and wonderful exhibits; and of course, all that tasty food.
Check out their website: escalantecanyonsartfestival.org to learn more about specific program dates, times, and venues.
