Artists have been inspired by their landscape since man first began scratching images on cave walls, which is why celebrating visual art at a place like Grand Canyon National Park is such a natural fit. This month, the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art returns for its 10th year with a full lineup of activities. Between Sept. 8 and 14, 25 painters from across the U.S. will paint en plein air at various points on the canyon’s South Rim. (Check the event’s website for details on which artists will be painting where.)
On Sept. 15 from 8 to 10 a.m., the artists will gather from Verkamp’s Visitor Center to Bright Angel Trailhead for a two-hour “quick draw.” The artists will have just two hours to start and finish a painting that will then be sold in a live auction outdoors at Bright Angel Trailhead. Mindy Riesenberg, spokesperson for the celebration of art, says it’s the highlight of the event. “It’s boisterous and fun because all of the artists are there,” says Mindy. “People are hollering and waving rags to bid on artwork. It’s so casual – a very laid-back art activity.”
The celebration culminates in an exhibit and sale at historic Kolb Studio, which is perched on the canyon’s edge. The sale includes studio and plein-air paintings. The public will receive its first glimpse of the artwork on Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All of the paintings will have a common theme: the Grand Canyon. Artwork will be available in a wide range of sizes and prices. The exhibit and sale lasts until Jan. 21, 2019. Paintings that sell will remain on display until the exhibit closes. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Grand Canyon Association, which has plans to build a dedicated arts venue at the South Rim.
“When you go to a place like the Grand Canyon, it’s not something you can describe in words,” says Mindy. “But a painting can express the feelings you have – that emotional reaction – when you see the canyon’s vastness. Sometimes that feeling translates better into images than words.”
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