Grand Canyon Conservancy - Artist in Residency
Grand Canyon Conservancy
As an Artist in Residence with the Grand Canyon Conservancy, I spent several weeks living and working on the South Rim, creating textile artwork inspired by the landscape, geology, and people who visit the canyon. Being a textile artist who works with salvaged materials, I was drawn to the canyon's layers, history, and immense sense of time.
During my time in the park, I hiked below the rim to Havasupai Gardens, Phantom Ranch, and the Colorado River. Experiencing the canyon from within its layers gave me a deeper appreciation for its scale, beauty, and complexity. The changing colors, textures, and formations influenced both my artwork and the way I thought about time, resilience, and connection to place.
Throughout the residency, I created a series of circular weavings inspired by the canyon's rings, strata, and natural patterns. These included several small and medium-scale works as well as a large circular weaving measuring seven feet in diameter. Working with reclaimed fibers and textiles, I explored ideas of geology, memory, and interconnectedness.
I also led public circular weaving activities for visitors of all ages. Using cardboard looms, yarn, and simple weaving techniques, participants created their own small weavings while reflecting on the layers of the canyon and their own personal stories. These gatherings encouraged people to slow down, make something with their hands, and connect with one another through creativity.
The residency deepened my understanding of the relationship between art, nature, and community. Living alongside wildlife—watching deer rest outside my residence, seeing an elk outside my kitchen window, and observing squirrels moving through the trees—was a daily reminder that I was a guest in a much larger ecosystem.