pres·ence[1] noun
- the fact or condition of being present
- the part of space within one’s immediate vicinity
- the bearing, carriage, or air (of a person)
- something (such as a spirit) felt or believed to be present
My three weeks as the Moab BLM Artist-in-Residence (AiR) was a present, a gift. In fact, it felt like I was the recipient of many presents. One of those presents was the opportunity to be fully present in my place and time on the public lands of Moab Canyon Country. Residing in and outside my tent, I was present to soak in luminous sunrises and sunsets over vast red rock landscapes, and to catch the glowing golds of fall grasses in the meadows. I heard coyotes call, spotted jackrabbits as they bounded by, and I was in turn watched by blue jays, ravens, and other opportunistic feathered friends. I was grateful to meet many people who love our public lands – local folk who knew secret spots; families and retirees from all over the country and the world, on road trips, camping, climbing, biking, and more. One of the highlights of my time was our community project at Sego Canyon where BLM staff introduced participants to millennia-old rock imagery. I was inspired by our participants’ modern-day interpretations of the leaping antelope and wide-eyed figures we observed etched on rock. We all felt a sense of presence and mystery in the canyon that day.
All these experiences culminated in my watercolor painting, “Presence”. I hope you enjoy it.
[1] Adapted from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence
There were many wonderful opportunities for sketching and painting en plein air.
The morning that I sheltered in an alcove from a sudden rain storm was especially exciting. As the rains subsided, waterfalls flowed down the canyon walls. Most days, though, were balmy and dry.
Our community event was held at Sego Canyon where we learnt about the impressive rock imagery of the area. Participants created modern day interpretations of the images that had been painted or pecked into the rock hundreds to thousands of years ago. Above are a few of my Sego Canyon-related paintings.
I’m very grateful to Eran Howarth, the Moab District of the Bureau of Land Management, and the Canyonlands Natural History Association, who created the opportunity for this lifetime experience.