Zion Day 12

Today was Media day.

 The guys from The Salt Lake Tribune, writer Brett Prettyman, and photographer Al Hartman, came to the Grotto to interview me for a story on the Artist-in- Residence program.

 Al is on the left, Brett on the right

Leslie Courtwright (Zion Museum and Gallery director) met me at the grotto at 8:30 am and Brett and Al shortly after. They interviewed Leslie about the program from her perspective and then she left to work.

I painted while they asked me questions most of the morning, we then went to lunch at Oscars in Springdale, very good burgers if you are looking for a good place to eat.

We then met with the Park Superintendent, Jock Whitworth and got his perspective on the program. I had briefly met Jock when I first arrived, but this was my first extended visit with him. He is very well traveled and experienced in the Park system. He has gps tracked Sea tortoise, and rounded up American Bison, neither an easy task. (not at the same time)

We then went back to the Grotto and I went out and painted outside to let them see that aspect of my life here in the canyon. I continued work on the plein-air panel I started yesterday.

 We didn’t stay out too long, because we wanted to drive up through the tunnel to the east side of the park, and see the different formations up there.

This is  a drainage tunnell under the road , about nine ft. tall

I took these shots to show how very different this part of the park is. The lower part probably looked this way a couple of millions years ago, or at least back in the 20’s.

This looks like the very tops of the canyon walls down near the Grotto,This is the view coming out of the tunnel.