Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
Artists work en plein air on the South Rim at the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art.
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
For the past decade, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art has paid tribute to the beauty and majesty of the iconic landscape. The event provides an opportunity for invited artists to paint en plein air for a week inside the park, and those works are then shown beside studio-produced pieces in an exhibition and sale at Kolb Studio, on the canyon’s South Rim.
“During its 10-year history, over 80 artists from all over the United States have participated in the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. Three of this year’s artists—joshua Been, John Cogan and Cody Delong—have been involved all 10 years. Each year new artists have been invited to participate, including Suzie Baker, Calvin Liang, John Lintott and Mick Mcginty this year,” says event coordinator Kathy Duley. “I am always awed and amazed how each artist expresses their love and knowledge of the canyon with a unique vision and perspective.”
Michelle Condrat will show a modern impressionistic style of landscape titled The Canyon’s Lullaby. She says, “I look forward to this event every year because it’s a time to get together with fellow artists that I don’t get to see throughout the year, and to paint with them in such an incredible place! Some people wait their entire lives to see the Grand Canyon, and we get to be invited and paint there for over a week at this wonderful place!”
Participating artist Dawn Sutherland adds, “This year, both of my paintings give a glimpse of fleeting moments on the trails. My studio painting, Heart of the Canyon, portrays the feeling of being deep in the Canyon, towering layers overhead, and another 1,000 feet of steep, rugged rock trail yet to go. The Wide Beyond, is a fleeting view of a spotlight of morning sun on distant formations as one comes around a bend on the South Kaibab Trail.” Sutherland also notes it is an honor to represent the wonder of the canyon during the event.
The plein air portion of this year’s event takes place September 8 to 15, culminating in a grand opening reception and sale on September 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A quick draw and live auction takes place on September 15 from 8 a.m. to noon, and the works will be on exhibition through January 21, 2019.