08/30/2023 — John Lintott

2023 Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Event

Colorado National Monument Association Hosts 7th Annual Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Event

Colorado National Monument Association is excited to host this event with over 24 plein air artists converging to paint the monuments and canyons found within Colorado National Monument and BLM National Conservation Areas.

Colorado National Monument Association is hosting the 2023 Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Event. This is our 7th year organizing the outdoor painting event, which will take place October 1st through October 8th.

Colorado National Monument Association has invited 24 local, regional, and nationally recognized artist to come to Western Colorado and paint at Colorado National Monument and in the surrounding BLM National Conservation Areas (NCAs) for the entire week. Artists will be painting at various locations throughout Colorado National Monument, McInnis Canyons, Rabbit Valley, and the Dominguez-Escalante Canyons. They will exhibit the work created during the event on Friday, October 6th through Sunday October 8th at the Carlson Vineyards Tasting Room in downtown Grand Junction. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go to benefit Colorado National Monument’s educational programs, scientific research, and special projects.

We have over $3500 in sponsorship awards for the artists, to attract the nation’s best plein air artists. Over the last 6 years this event has continued to grow and is one of the largest community-based fundraisers benefitting Colorado National Monument. Additionally, it has also offered community engagement by attracting both local and visiting artists and collectors to the Grand Valley, as well as the local community who are interested in seeing original works of art created on public lands.

Artists will be painting on their own within the designated areas and as a group in two locations. The public is invited to come, observe, and interact with the artists during the “Paint Out” at the locations listed below.

Wednesday, October 4th, 8am-11am at the Saddlehorn Picnic Area at Colorado National Monument
Thursday, October 5th, 8am-11am at Devils Canyon Trailhead at McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
(More information can be found on our Event Calendar.)

This year’s event judge is the nationally known oil landscape painter, Peggy Immel from Taos, New Mexico.

The exhibit is free and open to the public. Opening reception will be held at the Carlson Vineyards Tasting Room, 545 Main Street in downtown Grand Junction on Friday, October 6th, will start at 5pm and end at 8pm. The exhibit will remain open to the public on Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th. Artists will be in attendance, showing their work, and we are thrilled to see what they will create. The 2023 Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Event attracts those interested in observing plein air artists at work, interested in protecting public lands, and interested in collecting art.

2023 Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Artists