Looking Back and Looking Forward – Celebrating 20 Years of Art
In 1934, a nomadic 20-year-old artist named Everett Reuss discovered the rare beauty of the raw umber and burnt sienna sandstone layers surrounding the rural community of Escalante, Utah. Later, he disappeared into the desert, becoming an iconic figure for a festival begun in his honor in 2004. Since its beginning, the festival has grown and changed, like the rich environment it celebrates.
Now called the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, the theme continues to be ‘Art Inspired by Place.’ The event draws artists worldwide to compete in plein air and studio competitions, contribute to art exhibits and sales, and teach workshops and demonstrations. Vendors sell their crafts and unique wares while attendees enjoy live music and guided tours. There is something for everyone.
Over the years, each new colorful layer has included the addition of local youth artists, increased plein air competitions, broadened displays, more venues for workshops and lectures in neighboring communities, and highlighted local artists as well as an artist in residence.
Dr. Lonny Granston is this year’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 2024 Artist in Residence. Lonny’s work in previous years shows his passion for vivid images depicted with vibrant color. This year, he will experiment using both hemispheres of the brain by painting a pastel (right brain) while delivering a lecture on a medical topic (left brain). The process promises to be fascinating. See the website for all scheduled events.
Louise Fischman is the 2024 Festival featured artist. She describes her artistic inspiration as follows: “I create paintings inspired by the earth’s processes and energies. The seemingly solid geological forms in a landscape give way to cracks, seams, and flow lines that mingle, cross, and compress as they melt into fantastic patterns. I continue to be inspired by this mysterious and beautiful occurrence.” Her paintings will surely inspire all who see them.
The live music for this year’s festival is as diverse as the landscape backdrop. From David Hauze and Shannon Ullman’s folksy melodies on harp and guitar to local artist Kenny Hall’s western singing to Pasos Gigante’s harmonic artisans to Sihasin, the Benally Navajo siblings whose music has a message and has repeatedly been recognized with awards across the globe, there is something for every ear to enjoy.
For the visual arts, standard artist registration ends on September 3 for Plein Air and Studio Work. All registered artists must stop by the Stamp-in location to verify their registration, acknowledge that they have read the Rules and Guidelines, and collect their name tags and any other orientation materials.
Plein Air needs to be stamped Friday, September 20, through Monday, September 23.
The Paint-Out is the only other category that needs to be stamped when artists have 24 hours to complete a painting anywhere along Scenic Byway 12 between Red Canyon on the west and Torrey on the east end.
Drawing is this year’s 20th Anniversary Bonus Category. Drawings can be plein air or studio. Charcoal, pen and ink, marker, and graphite pencil are accepted mediums. All drawings must be black-and-white or grayscale.
Special categories include Nocturne, Miniatures, Drawing, Paint-Out, and Junior (Grades K-12 with four sub-categories). These special competitions broaden the challenge and opportunity for those interested in expanding their options. The information for artists lists more details, including cash award amounts.
Whether you are interested in music, creative writing, or the visual arts as a creator or appreciator, the 20th anniversary of the Escalante Canyons Art Festival has something for all to enjoy in the inspiring setting of Southern Utah’s Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. We hope to see you there.
Additional information, including where to register and details for attendees, can be found at escalantecanyonsartfestival.org.
