Everett Ruess Arts Festival Escalante Utah Oct 1-2, 2004

ESCALANTE, UTAH, AREA MARKS 70 YEARS
SINCE DISAPPEARANCE OF YOUNG ARTIST WITH TRIBUTES, WORKSHOPS,
EXHIBITIONS AND MUSIC.

Escalante Canyons / Everett Ruess Days
Scheduled for September 30 to October 2, 2004. For public information
call 435-826-4810 or see www.everettruessdays.org.

ESCALANTE, UTAH—Residents of Boulder and Escalante, Utah are
celebrating the life of artist Everett Ruess (b. 1914) 70 years after
he was reported missing in the remote red rock landscape near the
Utah/Arizona border.

Everett Ruess was an artistic, adventurous young man who set out alone
several times to experience the beauty, as well as the fury, of nature
in the American West. During the 1930s, he met and discussed art with
painter Maynard Dixon, and with well-known photographers Ansel Adams,
Edward Weston and Dorothea Lange. He was lured first by the splendors
of Yosemite and the California coast, and later by portions of the
lonely red rock lands of Utah and Arizona.

In November 1934, at age twenty, Everett disappeared from the canyon
country near Escalante, Utah, and was never seen again. Although his
burros were found hear his camp, his fate remains a mystery.

Local businessmen and artists, with the help of top Ruess aficionados,
have organized the three-day Escalante Canyons/Everett Ruess Days
festival. Promoters hope the festival will continue annually as a
premiere art and literary gathering. Its aim: to welcome Utah and the
world to the magnificent area surrounding Escalante and Boulder on
newly named National Road-Scenic Highway 12 which winds it way through
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

"We're a work in progress!" exclaims festival coordinator Harriet
Priska, who co-owns a gallery with her husband Philip in Escalante.
"This spring we realized it was the 70th anniversary. A great way to
kick-off the festival, but we had to move fast." She has been
gratified by the response to the event and the synergy that has
developed.

Everett left behind a remarkable collection of letters, essays and
poems in which he revealed himself to be artistically moved by the
glorious, ever-changing panoramas of this southern Utah wilderness.
The festival is designed to include naturalistic and literary
experiences as well as opportunities for the public to participate,
hence its name: "A Working Arts Festival."

Everett's artwork included drawings and watercolors, but his wood
block prints have become particularly well known. "The prints exhibit
an advanced sense of balance and composition for such a young person"
says Steven R. Jerman, a Salt Lake City graphic artist and Webmaster
for the festival. "But as with any young artist," he continues, "it's
not so much the work, as the spirit surrounding it, that defines its
greatness. Everett had that in spades."

One can expect to see a range of prints for exhibit and sale at the
festival including some 1930's originals, recent reprints, and present
day reproductions.

Central to the theme of art appreciation will be a plein air (outdoor)
painting competition with over $4,000 in prizes. Artists will have 40
hours to paint up to two canvases. Prominent Utah masters Douglas Snow
and Paul Davis, both of neighboring Torrey, Utah, will judge these
works. The resulting paintings will be offered at silent auction with
proceeds split between the artist and the festival organization.

Additionally there will be hands on workshops devoted to primitive
pottery making, drum-making, cross-stitch, tie-dye, plein air
painting, printmaking and Bad Dog Discovers America, an experience for
kids and adults.

The event activities kick off Thursday, September 30, at 3:00 p.m. at
the Boulder Mountain lodge. There, Everett's nephew, Brian K. Ruess of
Portland, Oregon will read from Everett's diaries. First published in
1985 as "Everett Ruess: A Vagabond for Beauty" (Gibbs Smith,
Publisher) the book has remained in print for 20 years. Publisher
Smith will act as master of ceremonies for the festival.

Following the reading, folk musician Dana Robinson, will perform.
Robinson is one of three artists associated with the festival who have
written songs as a tribute to Everett.

Later that evening festival goers can enjoy a Poetry Slam at the Burr
Trail Café or after hours festivities at Escalante Outfitters. Its
owner and festival chairman; Steve Roberts has modeled the event after
a similar yearly festival in Helper, Utah. "It has been a very good
thing . . . has really helped their local economy over the years.", he
noted.

The festival shifts into high gear Friday October 1 with an Arts Fair
and Exhibition on Escalante's Main Street and in the Old High School
Gym at the Civic Center on 100 West between Main Street and 100 North
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This Fair features local and regional artists
as well as vendors of Ruess books and festival memorabilia.

At 10:30 a.m. a Native American reading entitled "My Grandma's
Teachings" by Lucille Hunt of Blanding will be presented at at the New
High School Auditorium just north off Hwy 12 at the East end of
Escalante.

At 1 p.m. Cowboy poetry pioneer Hal Cannon will give his presentation
"Why the Cowboy Sings" at the Civic Center.

At 3 p.m. "Inspired By Wilderness - The Art of Shiela Woolley" will be
presented by Dr. Paula McNeill, Valdosta State University, Valdosta,
GA (Shiela's art is featured artist on the festival poster.)

Both evenings feature Everett Ruess speakers followed by concerts at
the new Escalante High School Auditorium just north off Hwy 12 at the
East end of Escalante. Friday, western historian and Mormon scholar
James Bergera will present: "Everett Ruess and the Murderous Pain of
Living: Some Thoughts on his Life" at 7:00.

This will be followed by a special performance by "The New Galoots"
featuring veteran Utah musicians, Mark Chaney (Saliva Sisters), Tulley
Cathey (University of Utah Department of Music) and Wayne Christiansen
(Cowjazz, Tempo Timers).

Saturday, October 2, at 4:00 p.m. you can experience "Word Shaker" the
Utah beat poetry of writer, actor, performer Alex Caldiero (Plan 10
from Outer Space). This will take place at the Kiva Koffeehouse, which
is in a dramatic setting overlooking the Escalante River Canyon just
off Hwy 12 about half way between Escalante and Boulder.

Saturday Night, "Vagabond for Beauty" Author W.L. Rusho will discuss
"The Legacy of Everett Ruess—The Truth and the Legend" His talk will
be followed by nearby Springdale musician Phillip Bimstein's acoustic
folk chamber group, blue haiku, concluding the festivities.

Running the length of the festival will be an exhibition of original
Everett Ruess block prints sponsored by the Utah Arts Council and the
National Endowment for the arts. The show will take place in the Old
High School Gym at the Civic Center on 100 West between Main Street
and 100 North from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Also showing daily is the docu-drama "Lost Forever". The film blends a
modern day story line with historical re-creations featuring stage
actor Mark Larson as Everett. Salt Lake City filmmaker Diane Orr spent
nearly a decade writing, re-writing and creating the film, which the
Taos film festival called. "An unforgettable exploration of the
wilderness, both inside us and out." The film will show every two
hours on the even-numbered hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Festival food will include regional favorites like Navajo tacos and
Bar-B-Q. One restaurant will be serving a sourdough pancake breakfast
buffet as well as vegetarian fare, and the festival beer garden will
feature a will feature a micro-brewed ale.

Accommodations in Escalante and nearby Boulder range from vacation
"retreat" rentals, to lodges, bed and breakfasts, and motels. Or like
Everett, one can camp. Find a complete list of lodgings including
campgrounds and national parks at
www.everettruessdays.org/food_and_lodging.html.

For additional information and image re-search needs contact
.

http://www.everettruessdays.org/news.html

http://www.everettruessdays.org/