Joyce Heuman, artist-in-residence at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, will lead interested artists on a hiking and sketching tour Saturday, May 19. Participation is limited to 15 people; call 882-5600 to reserve a place.
The group will depart from the lower Sand Canyon trailhead at 9:30 a.m. Participants of any age or art skill level are welcome to join the group. Each participant should wear a hat and adequate hiking shoes, bring sketching materials, and carry enough drinking water for several hours of hiking.
Heuman, the second of four artists-in-residence scheduled to work in the monument this summer, will devote herself to art and observation between May 13 and May 19. She is a watercolorist and aficionado of local history, and the only selected artist who lives in the Cortez area.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management chose Canyons of the Ancients to inaugurate its artist-in-residence program, which promotes awareness of the exceptional places protected within the BLMs National Landscape Conservation System and provides opportunities for learning and dialogue about the value of public lands. Support also has been provided by the San Juan Mountains Association.
Joyces twin passions for painting and nature are evident in all her work, said Marietta Eaton, BLM Anasazi Heritage Center/Canyons of the Ancients National Monument manager.
Heuman has exhibited art in various galleries and venues throughout the Southwest, and is currently employed by Crow Canyon Archaeological Center near Cortez. Some of her recent work is on display in a group show at the Mancos Visitor Center through the end of May.
A walk through this spectacular landscape is a journey through time, and many places show evidence of early habitation, Heuman said in a prepared statement from the BLM. Our imaginations are activated by intriguing alcoves that shelter the remains of ancient homes. On our hike we will sketch, walk, and share impressions of our surroundings. Do you see the canyons though the eyes of a biologist, a geologist or a historian? Join me to explore a unique point of view.
The lower Sand Canyon trailhead is in McElmo Canyon, 12 miles east of Highway 491 on County Road G. To reserve a space, call the Anasazi Heritage Center at 882-5600. Interested people also can contact Heuman directly at 533-1223 (cell) or 564-1112 (studio).
The Anasazi Heritage Center, three miles west of Dolores on Highway 184, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the museums web site at www.blm.gov/co/ahc.