Monumental Art for the Colorado National Monument

The Colorado National Monument is one of many hidden gems Western Colorado has to offer. An array of burnt reds and sage greens cover the breadth of stone, which is home to a vast ecosystem of desert flora and fauna. This October, you can appreciate both the Monument’s beauty and support its conservation by attending the Monuments and Canyons Painting Event, hosted by the Colorado National Monument Association (CNMA). 

Photos courtesy of Colorado National Monument Association

From October 2 to 9, 20-plus juried artists, both local and from across the nation, will create art inspired by the Monument while standing in its canyons and along its cliffs. At the end of the week, there will be an exhibition displaying the incredible art the monument inspires. All proceeds from the exhibition are split between the artists and CNMA. All money CNMA receives goes towards maintaining the Monument and its various services.

“My absolute favorite part of this event is just seeing how much creative and beautiful stuff these artists come up with by the end of the week,” founder John Lintott explains. Typically, there are about 200 new works of art by the end of this event, and about $20,000 in sales are made.

While artists only have a week to complete their paintings, the public has until November 5 to head to the Carlson Vinyards Downtown Tasting Room to check out the works. Want to watch the magic happen live and in-person? Attend one of the week’s group paint outs to witness artists cast their strokes. These paint outs will occur Wednesday, October 5 at the Saddlehorn picnic area and Thursday, October 6 at the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, both from 8 to 10 a.m. Whether you attend a paint out or purchase a piece, the Monuments and Canyons Painting Event is a great way to appreciate and support the people and places that make up our home.

CNMA is a nonprofit organization created with the sole intent of supporting the Colorado National Monument. All proceeds from events such as the Monuments and Canyons Painting Event support the Monument’s“educational, interpretive and scientific programs, helping visitors better understand and connect to this premier geologic and recreational gem,” as described on CNMA’s website, coloradonma.org.

Originally published in the Fall 2022 issue of Spoke+Blossom.