Summer Art Hikes continue with Painter Valerie Orlemann

Published: July 17, 2013 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Even a seasoned artist attempting to depict the wonders of the southern Utah landscape faces many challenges in capturing the stunning vistas. With that in mind, painter Valerie Orlemann will lead "The Challenges of a Red Rock Landscape: Painting the Grand Castle" in a SUMA Art Hike open to artists, students and all members of the community on Saturday, July 20.

Orlemann, along with Anne Smith, coordinator of SUU's Outdoor Education Series, and a representative from the U.S. Forest Service, will lead hikers on a trek to the Vermillion Cliffs in Parowan Canyon, part of the Dixie National Forest. Saturday's hike is the latest in an ongoing series of SUMA Art Hikes created by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) Community Engagement Committee to build public awareness for the University's forthcoming art museum. All Art Hikes are free and open to the general public.

On the hike, participants will have the opportunity to interpret the Vermillion Cliffs through their own medium. Participants are encouraged to bring pencils, watercolors, sketchbook, cameras (optional), knapsack, water, snacks/lunch (if desired), poncho or plastic to sit on when sketching, hats, gloves, sunscreen and jackets/rain gear for potential weather change. Please wear study boots or shoes for hiking. All children must be accompanied by a responsible parent or adult.

Hikers will meet at east side of Main Street Park in Cedar City at 9 a.m. The hike is free and open to the community. For this hike, participants must contact the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery to reserve a place for you and your party. Please call 435-586-5432 or email gallery@suu.edu.

Orlemann is a realist landscape painter who works with oil on canvas to capture a realistic sense of light, color and place, celebrating the landscapes of Southern Utah and the Four Corners. She began studying art at the University of Utah until parenthood and a move to Escalante set her loose in the midst of southern Utah’s most dramatic scenery. She continued to paint, and has exhibited work in galleries in Salt Lake City, St. George, Provo, Dallas and Flagstaff. Her work has been acquired by the St. George Art Museum and is in numerous private collections. Orlemann has been the featured artist at the Cedar City Arts Festival and the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, and was selected to be Artist-in-Residence at Mesa Verde National Park. She lives with her husband and daughter in Parowan, Utah. 

SUMA Art Hikes have been created to provide an opportunity for the southern Utah community to discover the special places where local artists gain inspiration for their art. Participants will get to hike to these inspiring locations with the artist as well as a representative from the Public Lands such as the National Park Service, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or Utah Division of Natural Resources who will educate and enlighten the hikers to learn more about these unique locales. In addition, all participants are encouraged to bring their own art supplies (sketch books, pencils, pastels, watercolors or whatever a hiker’s media) and cameras to capture the natural beauty of the region for themselves.

There is one remaining SUMA Art Hike scheduled in the 2013 line-up, a fall hike led by artist J. Brad Holt.

Detailed art hike information is available at suu.edu/pva/suma.

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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