Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. - An art exhibit opening Wednesday, Oct. 13, is banking on the adage “A picture is worth a thousand words,” to inspire area residents to participate in a government process. Specifically to contribute or react to the Resource Management Plan (RMP) that will guide all Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decisions for the next 20 years in the Big Horn Basin.
“Public Lands, Personal Visions: A Big Horn Basin Juried Art Exhibit” opens with a 7:30 p.m. artists’ reception Wednesday, Oct. 13, in the Northwest Gallery on the Northwest College campus in Powell.
The exhibit features 31 pieces in oil, watercolor, cast plaster, monotype, fabric, and photography. The individual works communicate the artists’ personal perspectives of, interactions with and experiences within the public lands of the Big Horn Basin.
Images range from a simple trail of animal tracks in snow to a majestic view of the Devil’s Canyon of the Big Horn Canyon. Viewers will see an avocet bird quilted on a landscape of fabric, a straight stretch of highway headed into a clouded sky, and a graphic design that incorporates the words “give me land lots of land under starry skies above” and many more images that speak to this corner of Wyoming.
Nineteen artists are represented in the show. They all are either from or working in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming.
“Public Lands, Personal Visions: A Big Horn Basin Juried Art Exhibit” is a cooperative venture of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Wyoming Outdoor Council and Northwest College Art Department.
“The BLM is currently revising its 20-year management plan for all public lands in the Big Horn Basin,” Hilary Eisen of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, said. “This is our last chance to shape the future of public lands in a meaningful way. We want to touch a chord with viewers by reflecting back to them the many ways they live, work, play in and value this area. We hope they’ll react by becoming involved in the management plan process.”
Eisen said the public has many opportunities to take part in the RMP process, such as participating in public comment periods, attending meetings and workshops, and appealing plans and decisions. Information about the BLM’s resource management planning process will be available at Northwest Gallery while the show is displayed.
The show was juried by Big Horn Basin artist Denney NeVille. A Byron resident, NeVille has worked as a painter, illustrator, cartoonist, art instructor and animation production assistant for more than 35 years.
This art exhibit is the first of several events planned in communities across the Big Horn Basin to raise awareness of the BLM’s pending Resource Management Plan.
“Public Lands, Personal Visions: A Big Horn Basin Juried Art Exhibit” hangs in Northwest Gallery through Nov. 19. Located in the Cabre Building, the gallery is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays and from 7-9 p.m. Thursday evenings. Admission is free.
