The Escalante Arts Festival successfully completed its 19th year of celebrating place through the eyes of talented artists from across the nation and attendees from across the world.
Art lovers from as far away as Mongolia, the United Kingdom, Australia, Holland, Ontario and dozens of U.S. states witnessed the diverse creativity. With 88 registered artists and 26 student participants sharing their interpretations in pastels, watercolor, oils, and woodcarving, viewers had much to enjoy.
Additionally, artists brought studio pieces for display that they had created ahead of time, allowing multi-media pieces, including 3D in metal and driftwood. In the Studio category, first-time attendee Hope Ricciardi won the First Place Purchase Award Plein Air as well as the Sheila Wooley Escalante Historic Award. Ward Stroud won the First Place Purchase Award Studio Work, and local artist Tannia Durfey won the People’s Choice Award.
The week began with workshops about multiple creative expressions and demos. Local songwriter and playwright, Raymond Shurtz, taught a writing class. There was a demo on making and identifying clouds and a beautiful quilt display was in the community center with 27 local quilts, one from Rexburg, Idaho and another from Midvale, Utah. They were of all patterns and colors, both treasured heirlooms and new. One quilt was more than 100 years old and another was completed the night before the event. Of special interest was a self-portrait by Susan Shurtz rendered in fabric pieces. The quilts ranged in size from hanging pieces to king-sized; there was even a quilted book. Thanks to Marty Henrie and Char Reese for doing the display.
Similar to the Studio display, the Nocturne entries could be painted ahead of time as long as they were created between dusk and dawn. Several were painted during the week with the Outfitters as a popular subject. Scott Geary won the Nocturne First Place Award.
For the Paint the Town Paint Out competition, artists needed to be either within the boundaries of the city’s perimeter or sitting outside the perimeter and painting something within. They had 24 hours to complete their pieces. Mayor Melani Torgersen judged the 27 entries and presented the Mayor’s Choice Award to Terry Chacon. The First Place prize was given to former resident Valerie Orleman.
On Saturday the 23rd, 23 artists participated in the Quick Draw category, with three hours to complete their work in the park among the crowds watching. With easels scattered throughout, onlookers had a close-up look as the images progressed from the artists’ minds to the diverse canvasses. Ward Stroud won the Quick Draw Award based on votes from the viewing audience.
Inspiring and diverse demonstrations included:
- Margie Lopez Read taught how to use all your senses, not just sight, to more fully understand your subject, noticing shapes, patterns, smells, and texture.
- Sue Martin taught her class how to ‘play’ with paint, shrugging off old habits and rules to create something new and exciting for new discoveries.
- Landscape painter Roland Lee taught three specific ways to get the most out of their outdoor location experience.
- Kadi Franson from Bryce Canyon taught how to create a linoleum block print from start to finish.
- Helga Watkins compared studio painting with Plein Air, explaining the complexity of observation and ‘drawing what you see’ towards ‘drawing to understand.’
- Peggy Marlatt uses pastels to capture her favorite topic of arches and canyon walls. finding inspiration in her home area of the Sonoran Desert, with the similar color pallet of the Escalante Canyons.
- Jennifer Gubler taught a layering technique of etching and painting on bisque tiles.
- Eileen Guernsey Brown, Artist in Residence, demonstrated her Plein Air approach of how to pick a subject and what to leave out.
- Louise Sackett and Gunther Haidenthaller have completely different styles, yet they shared two canvasses, challenging their creativity and fostering fun.
- Lonny Granston is arguably the most colorful and vivid of all entrants, whose pastels remind us of our uninhibited days of coloring with crayons.
- Escalante resident Coco Kishi, 2023’s Featured Artist, displayed her vast collection of eggs and gourds crafted with wax and liquid dyes to produce elaborate designs in the Pysanky tradition from the Ukraine.
FOX 13 News anchor Max Roth was camping in the Escalante area when he stumbled across the Escalante Canyons Arts Festival. To view his experience, go to: https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/meet-two-of-the-artists-at-the-escalante-canyons-art-festival.
From the delicious food offered by local truck vendors to the entertaining music, the 2023 Escalante Arts Festival was another resounding celebration of creativity in all its variety and forms.
Thank you to the more than 100 volunteers, city workers, and committee for their dedication to another successful art festival.
Mark your calendars for Sept. 21-28, 2024 for the 20th-Year celebration of the Escalante Canyons Art Festival.
2024 dates 20th year website: escalantecanyonsartfestival.org.
– by Karen Munson
Learn more about some of the sewing and crafting crowd in Boulder by reading Stitching Hearts Together in Boulder.