Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
Grand Canyon Village, AZ
The Grand Canyon is one of the most visited national parks in the country, and for good reason. The 277-mile stretch of stunning limestone, sandstone and shale is awesome in the literal sense of the word, and the artistic inspiration the canyon provides seems boundless. The beauty of this world wonder is celebrated every year during the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, a tradition now in its 11th year, where artists from across the country gather together to paint the the canyon in plein air.
“The Grand Canyon has a long tradition of artists painting it— Thomas Moran, Louis Akin and numerous other artists. In fact, artists were very instrumental in getting us designation as a national park service altogether,” says Kathy Duley, who coordinates the event. “I’m not an artist, but I’ve been told it’s one of the most challenging places to paint. Everything changes from minute to minute, hour to hour,” she says.
This year’s celebration runs September 7 to 15, with artists such
as Suzie Baker, Lyn Boyer, Cody Delong, Mick Mcginty, Dawn Sutherland and many others in attendance. Also included are special guest artists Erin Hanson, Ed Mell, Dan Namingha and Rick Wheeler.
For the first six days, artists can paint anywhere on the South Rim and in the canyon, Duley says. On Friday, September 13, the boundaries are restricted a bit more, and then on Saturday artists must work within the boundaries of the Verkamp’s Visitor Center to the Kolb Studio—essentially Grand Canyon Village.
“Returning to the canyon is like returning to an old friend,” says Boyer. “That first glimpse of the canyon when I’m driving in from the east always carries a bit of magic with it…there are some favorite spots I like to return to where you get a beautiful glimpse of the river below. Another favorite is a view of Angel’s Gate flanked by Wotan’s Throne and Vishnu. If you wait for just the right moment as the sun is setting, the light from Angel’s Gate creates the shape of a bird in flight,” she says.
For Mcginty, it’s about finding spots no one has painted before and getting as much photographic reference as possible. “It’s realizing that scene right in front of you that’s going to be your next ‘best painting you’ve ever painted’ instead of being distracted by something over your shoulder that you think will be better. Sometimes a simple shadow covering a cliff face is more dramatic and interesting than all the paintings you have done so far,” he says.
“There is a feeling of excitement, anticipating what aspect of the canyon will call out to be painted. I look forward to the changing light, the scent of junipers and cliff roses and the bird calls. And I look forward to catching up with returning artists and getting to know painters new to the event as well,” says Sutherland.
A meet-and-greet with the artists, newly added to the schedule starting last year, will happen on Friday evening at the historic El Tovar Hotel from 5:30 to 7 p.m. During the Quick Draw & Live Auction on Saturday, artists paint for two hours from 8 to 10 a.m., then those works are auctioned off at 11 a.m.
New to the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art this year are Kadin Goldberg, Kirk Larsen and Robert Green. “I’m always really excited to see what these artists come up with,” says Duley. “It’s always fun to see the new visions.” The exhibition and sale will be up until January 20, 2020.