| DATE 4/07/2003 9:50 PM |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete Country Travel and Heritage Council on the people and places along U.S. Highway 89. First Artists at Work Tour Scheduled |
| The inaugural Artists at Work tour, designed to give arts writers, photographers and enthusiasts a chance to learn about the artists and artisans who work and live along U.S. Highway 89, has been scheduled for May 13 – 16. The four-day tour will take people who write about the arts for newspapers, magazines, books and other publications on a tour of U.S. Highway 89. The group will stop at studios and museums along the historic route to allow participants to spend time with and observe artists at work. The purpose is to attract people both nationally and internationally to the region. The trips are free of charge to the writers, but are also open to paying arts enthusiasts interested in learning more the art and history of the region. The tours are funded by a grant received by the Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council from the U.S. Forest Service and National Endowment for the Arts. The cities and town along U.S. Highway 89 are known for being rich in art and art history. Well-known local artists and works of art include the famous late sculptor Avard Fairbanks and his works on Abraham Lincoln; Ephraim artist Larry Nielsen whose paintings on wood have made their way to the White House; and the newly-restored historic Moroni Opera House.
The tours will leave from Salt Lake City, and make three over-night stops in Kanab, Escalante and Spring City. Tour participants will also learn about the area s history, including little-known facts about colonizer Brigham Young, the escapades of outlaw Butch Cassidy and the poignant story of Native American Chief Black Hawk. The tours are being conducted, in part, by Mary Ellen Elggren from Clawson-Sheilds Tours, who as already completed several similar guided tours of the region. Elggren said the first Artists at Work tour should have about 25 participants, including about 10 people from the Utah, national and international media. |
| For more information Contact:Monte Bona Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council (435) 462-2502 |