It is time to make plans for the 9th Annual Escalante Canyons Art Festival–Everett Ruess Days! Last year’s festival was a huge success on all fronts. More than 75 artists from near and as far away as Florida and Hawaii participated in the Plein Air Competition. Vendors selling art, photography, fabric goods, ceramics, and food were busy with customers both Friday and Saturday. The entertainment ranged from locals acts – the Griffin Family, the Mecham Sisters and Boulder’s Quarrelling Society Ladies to Flagstaff musicians Dave McGraw & Crow Wing.

This year’s festival dates are Friday, September 28 and Saturday September 29, 2012. The Plein Air Painting Competition will be held Friday, September 21 to Thursday, September 27. Sign-in for the competition begins September 21, allowing six days to paint. Sign-in locations are in Escalante, Boulder, Tropic, Torrey, and Kanab (new this year). All final entries must be submitted on Thursday, September 27 between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Escalante Community Center.

We are awarding $8000 in prizes this year! Included are 21 cash prizes, an ad in Plein Air Magazine for the Artist’s Choice Award, and two Best of Show Purchase Awards of $1500.00 each (one in Watercolor/Mixed Media and one in Oil/Acrylic). Our Paint-Out this year will be called “Paint the Town,” and held on Wednesday, September 26 with sign-in at the Escalante Town Park (100 North and Center Street) beginning at 9:00 am. Judging will occur at 5:00 pm in the Lions Club Pavilion, also in the park. This year’s Paint-Out will be judged by three individuals from the local community and the winner will receive a $250 cash prize.

There are many wonderful historic brick houses and rustic barns in Escalante suitable as subject matter for the Paint-Out; however, as we did last year, you can go as far as one mile away from the park to paint. This allows you to paint buttes and pastures in addition to, or instead of, architecture and streets.

We are excited to announce our new Artist-in-Residence Program sponsored by the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and the Escalante Canyons Art Festival! The program awards a plein air artist the opportunity to live and work in Escalante, Utah during the month of September. The residency period is two weeks OR four weeks depending on the awarded artist's choice, with the stay ending September 29. A one bedroom apartment, or R.V. space with hookup, and a monetary stipend will be provided. The selected artist is not eligible to participate in the 2012 Escalante Canyons Art Festival Plein Air Competition or Paint-Out. This residency is open to any plein air painter, 18 and over, including previous grand prize winners. See the Artist in Residence tab for further details.

For more information on entering the competition or exhibiting your crafts or artwork, please go to the pages for “Artists” and for “Artisans and Vendors”. Your Plein Air Competition entry form must be postmarked by September 12 to avoid a penalty. You can also register online at: http://www.newrentalsonline.com/ArtistRegistration.aspx Remember to join us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/EscalanteArtFest.

Escalante Canyons Art Festival
P.O. Box 40
Escalante UT 84726