18th Annual Escalante Canyons Art Festival Returns
The 18th Annual Escalante Canyons Art Festival runs from Tuesday, September 12. Several art workshops are offered during the week through Sunday, September 25, with a final art sale and breakfast at Escalante Outfitters.
This art gathering is a premier event in Southern Utah and has Plein air artists painting throughout three counties – Wayne, Garfield, and Kane. — 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.
Traveling throughout the region, you will likely see artists creating works en Plein air (a French term that means “in full air”), inspired by these world-renowned landscapes. What lovelier canvas could one wish for?
This year’s program includes creative activities, exhibits, educational programs, guided hikes, great fun, and live entertainment.
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 incentivizes young artists to participate. Artworks entered in the competition categories will be on exhibit and for sale September 23-24 in the Plein Air Exhibit Tent in the City Park.
WORKSHOPS: Several talented artists are slated to teach art workshops beginning in September. Workshops include creating barn quilts, reduction linocuts, and using oil paint and cold wax.
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.
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE: This year’s GSENM Plein Air Artist-in-Residence is Claire Giordano from Sammamish, Washington. During the month she will exploring the Monument while also finding time to conduct public and school programs. The results of her residency will be exhibited and for sale September 23-24 in the Town Park.
ROVING TALKS: The Roving Talks program was hugely successful last year, so it has been expanded with more programs this year. It runs from September 12 through September 24. These programs are limited to a set number of participants. Please see the festival website to RSVP. Roving Talk leaders and programs include:
- E. Burrillo – Water and Watchers in the Escalante River Area
- Sandra Zarzycka: Visiting Archaeological Sites with Respect
- Nan Seymour, Steve Cox and Raven Chavez: Humanities in the Wild: Writing to Witness Water, Land, and Life on the Escalante River
- Bob Stevenson: Lightbulb Moments in the Circle Cliffs
- Cindy Calbaum: Trees of the Escalante Mountains
- Lindsay Martindale: Beavers – Nature’s Architects
- Alan Titus: Tracking Grand Staircase’s Jurassic Dinosaurs
- Larry Barnes: Historic Walking Tour of Escalante
- Rhiannon Garrard: Jurassic Rock Recipes
LIVE MUSIC: Musicians from near and far will entertain festival goers September 23-24 on the Town Park Stage. Musicians include:
- Patrice Webb is a singer-songwriter from Sandpoint, Idaho, where she lives on a rambling 23-acre homestead. Her songs are drawn from the folk era of the 60s country swing and the blues of days-gone-by.
- Annie’s Safehouse Band‘s journey of song has been one of joyful devotion. With her virtuoso pals Ben Kraftwerx, Jimmy Vickers, and Will Hanisko.
- Mel Soul a local Utah Musician for 11 years. Winner of the Wasatch Mountain Music Festival Songwriting Competition in 2021 and performer of the year for the yARTie Awards. She has worked with Darrell Scott, Mary Gauthier, Lauren Christy, and Natasha Bedingfield.
- Kenny Hall is a singer of western ballads and songs who lives in beautiful Bryce Canyon. Kenny is a popular entertainer with many great songs that cross western genres. His rich cowboy heritage connects us to the music he performs.
- Salt Gulch All Stars are pleased to announce that Kak Urpani will be playing with the band this year. Rest assured, the good time spirit of the All Stars deep musical friendships are guaranteed to get your toe tappin’ and if you’re brave, jump out of your seat and BOOGIE!
- Matt Burke is an Americana artist from Nashville, TN. Burke moved to Nashville in the latter half of 2019 and quickly began making a name for himself as a songwriter and performer. Since the fall of 2020, Burke has released a steady stream of quality new material that has drawn comparisons to Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Zac Brown.
- Hugh Phillips Band is a 5-piece Americana/Country Band from Carbondale, Colorado. They were nominated as the Best New Artist/Band, Best New Male Vocalist, and Best New Americana/Country Song [Hi-Ways] on the Colorado Playlist 2021 Listener Poll.
- Sihasin – brother and sister Jeneda and Clayson Benally have been recording and touring, bringing their empowering, organic, conscious-raising, charged music to communities throughout Europe and North America. Multi-award-winning musicians from the (Dine) Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona create an explosive duo of just bass, drums and vocals with a traditional Navajo backbone bridging folk, rock, world, pop and a little punk.
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; storytelling, readings, and book signings; and, of course, tasty food.
Visit escalantecanyonsartfestival.org to learn more about specific program dates, times, and venues. We’ll see you at the Escalante Canyons Art Festival!
