Visit Zion National Park this week and watch painters at work in the park/NPS, October 2012

Watching an artist at work reveals how they see landscapes, sometimes differently than those of us who are not artists. Visit Zion National Park in southwestern Utah this week and you'll be able to watch nearly two dozen painters as they take part in the seventh annual Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational.

The artists will be painting at several locations throughout the park as well as holding demonstrations on the back porch of the Zion Human History Museum. There will also be several lectures and chances for visitors to purchase over 150 pieces of art. Proceeds will support Zion National Park’s Youth Initiative and Arts Programs.

“Art played an integral role in the history of Zion National Park,” said Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh. “The paintings of artists such as Thomas Moran and Frederick Dellenbaugh provided many Americans with their first glimpses of Zion Canyon. This led to the creation of Zion National Park. This event allows visitors to experience the power of art and its ability to capture Zion.”

Invited artists can be seen painting along Zion National Park’s trails and roadsides through Friday. On Saturday, November 7, visitors can join in by watching or painting alongside the artists on the Zion Lodge Lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Sunday, all the artists will also be painting around the Zion Human History Museum from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Artists will be leading daily demonstrations through Thursday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. at the Zion Human History Museum. Evening lectures will take place at the Zion Lodge Auditorium on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m.

Art from the 23 artists will be on display and available for purchase all week at the Zion Human History Museum. A “Wet Paint” exhibit and sale will also occur at the Zion Nature Center Saturday and Sunday. A silent auction will take place at the Zion Lodge Auditorium on Saturday, November 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Proceeds from the event support Zion National Park’s art and educational programming. The Zion National Park Foundation is the park’s official fundraising partner. In 2014, the event raised more than $50,000.

Last year the Zion National Park Foundation helped provide buses for local students and some classes from Mesquite, Nevada to participate in educational programs at Zion. The funds also enabled 120 urban students from Las Vegas to have their first camping experience at Zion National Park. Additionally, the Zion National Park Foundation helped support the Zion’s junior ranger program, other youth outreach projects, and the park’s Artist-in-Residence Program.