Between mid-October and mid-November of 2017 I spent a month as Zion National Park's Artist-In-Residence (AIR). Some of our National Parks offer a small number of residencies every year to allow artists of many disciplines ranging from visual arts, literary, musicians, theater and dance the opportunity to create in one of our country's monumental places. I am one of the four artists that was awarded an AIR in 2017 which allowed me to live in the beautiful Grotto House, Zion's first Visitor Center, for a month. I hiked as many trails as I could squeeze in during that month, sketched from my cabin and along the Virgin River, biked Zion Canyon in the early morning before the buses ran and painted into the late night inside my Grotto studio with evening walking breaks up the canyon when it was completely void of humans.
This image is an oil painting from a photo I took at the very top of Observation Point, one of my favorite hikes I did during my stay at Zion. It’s not an easy trek, it’s quite steep in spots and long, but when you make it to the top you know you earned it as the view is out of this world. My knees complained on the way down but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
There are many ways to work in oil paints to get different effects. Most of my paintings are larger format than you see in most Plein Air (onsite) paintings because you're limited to what you can complete in a day. My paintings style incorporates multiple (glazing) layers over dryer layers in attempt to give a painting greater depth which also requires more drying time. Paintings like this take me weeks and sometimes months to fully complete. I do a little plein air (onsite—"open in full air") sketching and painting when I'm on the trail as well. I do this mostly to stay fresh and loose in my drawing/painting skills; it’s more of an exercise for me. I've been a photographer professionally and artistically for years and when taking a photo I put a lot of thought into how it will translate into one of my paintings. I go to extreme efforts to find just the right image. A lot of times that requires me to hike deep into the back country or climb out on some ledge always dragging along my cameras. During my Zion Artist Residency I shot well over 1000 images. In the last few years I've built up quite a stock of National Park photos that I always go back thru when looking for the perfect painting subject. I'm always amazed how an image that escaped my attention before is the one I'm obsessed to paint. It’s like I'm reliving the whole experience of being there again in that very location. However, many times I'm already home in my studio when I finally begin a painting. I have to dig deep to recall those smells, the feel of the air and sounds that accompanied that place I photographed sometimes months or even years earlier. This is what is so amazing about being given an art residency in a place as magical as Zion National Park. It not only gave me the time to create work onsite within the park, living there for an entire month also blended Zion deep into my cellular being. I once heard a docent at the University of British Columbia Anthropology Museum tell a group of people about the process of how First Nations Haida Gwaii peoples made their totem poles. He said that the carver would find a tree, ask its permission to use it for his family or tribe's pole and after receiving the tree's blessing and before cutting it down, he would breathe in the soul of the tree inside of himself to keep safe. As the carver began carving the tree into a pole he would then breathe that very soul back into the pole, to live on forever in its new form. I like to think of my paintings like that. I took a piece of Zion within me and will breathe it back into my paintings to share her spirit with the rest of the world. Thank you for such a beautiful, life-changing experience.
-Lisa Gilley
"Towers of the Virgin," Joshua Graham, Oil, April 2017
"Towers of the Virgin" is a visual response to one of the most striking geologic features in the canyon. For me this collection of sandstone formations represents a visual metaphor of the "sublime," which I interpret as a state of being or a quality that both awes and terrifies simultaneously.
Much of my exploration in ZNP was done at night, under moonlight, which had the effect of simplifying complex color relationships and tones. Wandering the park at night also added a layer of mystery to my experience and the sketches I created while in residence. This painting is the result of one of my nocturnal explorations. My experience in Zion National Park was truly magical and still informs my artistic practice.
-Josh Graham
“Mountain Walking,” Jodie Hulden, Photograph, February 2017
This image was made on the last morning of my residency. I had packed away all my gear the night before in preparation for an early leave-taking of Zion. A storm had descended during the night and when I looked out of the cabin window early in the morning, the clouds and mist were swirling around the peaks, hiding and revealing them in ever changing light. I grabbed a camera and spent the next hour trying to capture the wonder and beauty before me.
–Jodie Hulden
The title, “Mountain Walking,” was taken from a saying by Dogen, a Zen Master (1200-1253), “Do not doubt that mountains walk simply because they may not appear to walk like humans.”
"Zion," Tyler James Patterson, Audio composition, September 2017
This is not the Zion you will experience outside; that Zion speaks for itself! This is the memory of a beautiful dream I had.
-Tyler James Patterson
Note from Zion: Scroll down to download the Mp3 files. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 1 as you depart the Temple of Sinawava and listen via headphones.
1 Please Take Your Seat
Track 1 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 1 as you depart the Temple of Sinawava and listen via headphones.
. . . Welcome to Zion, A Shuttle Album. Now count after me. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Dispatch I have a vehicle stopped. Are you ready x4.
If not today, then someday. If not your way, then God’s plan. I aint feelin worried at all, everyone I see. I ain’t feelin worried at all, every time I see. I ain’t feeling worried at all, everyone I see. I ain’t feelin worried at all, every time I see. Feelin second best, feelin like it’s my fault. Face against the glass, face against the asphalt. Face another way and I’ll see you there, face the other way and I’ll see you. I’m seein all. Everything I ask for, everything I ever call. (I know you in every way, it’s like I know you in every way. Feelin no way at all, nothin ever broke my fall). I think I’m able. Everythin I as for, everything I ever call. I ain't feelin worried at all, everyone I see. I ain’t feelin worried at all, every time I see. I ain’t feeling worried at all, everyone I see. I ain’t feelin worried at all, every time I see. (inaudible background singing). Feelin second best, feelin like it’s my fault. Face against the glass, face against the asphalt. Face another way and I’ll see you there, face the other way and I’ll see you.
Start your next track once you reach shuttle stop 8: Big Bend (repeats). 10-4. The subject’s vehicle is a candy apple red slay with gold trim and candy canes painted on the side doors. He has white hair and a long white beard. He was last seen wearing a large red suit with black go go boots. Disorderlies call, report of two house friends yelling and swearing.
When the blue of the night meets the gold of the day, someone waits for me.
It has 22 inch chrome spinning rims and a license plate of david david yellow king lincold adam sam. The suspect is known to travel with 8 accomplices known as reindeer. One has a red blinking nose.
2 Big Band
Track 2 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 2 as you depart Big Bend and listen via headphones.
. . . I am very aware of the preciousness of time; seize the moment, act now. We are all time travelers journeying into the future. 8! This is Big Band.
I saw God in this year’s new iphone. I saw you apple macbook pro. I see you in Lakers courtside seats with Magic and Kareem, with Metta and Kobe. And you’re all I see, your will recovers me. And you’re all I see, your will recovers me. Start your next track once you reach shuttle stop 7, Weeping Rock.
100 million percent. That’s how positive my next guest Danielle is about her ex fiance Tyler that he’s the father of their on year old daughter Trinity, welcome to the show. 200 million percent. I am 200 million percent sure he’s the father of that baby I don’t even care. Alright everybody we might as well meet Tyler right? Here’s Tyler. When it comes to one year old Trinity, Tyler, you are the father. I told you. Get out of my face. I told you. Just take care of that girl. Yeah I will. I told you.
3 Weeping Rock
Track 3 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 3 as you depart Weeping Rock and listen via headphones.
Does it matter if I see you runnin, it won’t be the last. Does it matter if i see you only, I feel you last. I feel you laugh. I feel you laugh, and I just swear by it. I can’t even deny it. I think you’re all. And I survive on it whenever I want it. I think you’re all.
Does it matter if I see you runnin, it won’t be the last. Does it matter if i see you only, I feel you last. I just swear by it. I can’t even deny it. I think you’re all. And I survive on it whenever I want it. I think you’re all.
Start your next track once you reach shuttle stop 6, the Grotto.
Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. Put water into a tea pot, it becomes the tea pot. Now water can flow or drip or crash. Be water my friend.
Spanish intercom. We are two people currently being escorted by: our dog, our food, 2 beers and a canary that’s currently asleep.
Whale sounds.
4 Cabin in the Woods
Track 4 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 4 as you depart the Grotto and listen via headphones.
. . . 6. Numbers repeating. 911. I don’t know if I should have called this in or not but; what’s goin on?; If I had my camera I would’ve taken a picture of it. Take a picture of who? I don’t know what I don’t know what it was. Okay what did it look like? It looked like a giant ape with a man’s face, but
And if I don’t see you, I’m never gonna write you wrong And if I don’t see you, you never get to have it both ways You never get to have it all You think you’re alive, but you never wake at all You never think at all You think it’s your time
5 Open Your Eyes
Track 5 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 5 as you depart the Zion Lodge and listen via headphones.
Now, I just wanna tell yall right now, we’ve been lyin to ya. You’re really here because each one of you has a wildest dream. Every one of you desperately needs...a brand new car. Pull it in boys. Open your eyes.
Does it really matter if you’re not my type Does it really matter at all Does it really matter it we don’t have time Does it really matter at all You’re a magic number, you’re a phoenix light Does it really matter at all And does it really matter if we take our time Does it really matter at all
It’s hard to imagine you there. Hard to believe you when you’re holdin my radio radio waves. I think I see you when you’re mad. I feel you when you laugh. I think I see you when you know. I feel but it won’t show. Hard to find a way. Open your.
Does it really matter if you’re not my type Does it really matter at all Does it really matter it we don’t have time Does it really matter at all
Open your eyes.
6 Zion
Track 6 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 6 as you depart the Court of the Patriarchs and listen via headphones.
. . . There were days when my vision was so blurry from stress and anxiety that I wondered if I would ever see clearly again, it was hard just doing the little things I love, I love, I love, I love. Then my doctor told me about Zion, a shuttle album. It’s not an antidepressant. It’s the first and only treatment approved for stress and anxiety. Zion helps me see, think, and feel more clearly. So now I can focus on something other than my pain, pain. If you have stress and anxiety, ask your doctor if Zion, a shuttle album is right for you.
Feel like I can see your way back to my call you My way back when I call you But want to, make I feel I want to Make out like I want to, make I feel I want And every time that I return Want you, make i feel I want you to, make I feel you want And every time that I return True Believer, You, I call you there You wake for every second I see Awake wake for every second I sleep
Want you, make I think I want to, make out like I ought to, make I feel I want you Way, they can never stay away. Take your memory away, you, want you, want wantin.
And I fall just when I follow you. And no wall will ever (keep me there). You wait for every second I see Awake for every second I sleep.
I see. What does it matter if I think but I don’t say. What does it matter if I think but, I don’t What does it matter if I thin but I don’t You don’t know better You can’t say why You’ve known forever But you can’t say why (I call you) There. And I fall just when I follow you. And no wall will ever.
Zion, A shuttle album is not for everyone. Including women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant. Some people have had depressed mood while listening to Zion. If you notice changes in your behavior that are not typical for you, stop listening, exit at the next shuttle stop and call your doctor right away.
After careful thought I understand that my word choice was extremely degrading and disrespectful to women. And if you are a person who take offense to what I said, I sincerely apologize to you. And the fact that during this whole process I’ve already lost sponsors and countless fans, I realize that the joke is really on me. And to the young people that see this, I hope that you learn something as well. Don’t be like me, be better than me. And to the reporters, to the journalists, to the moms, and the supermoms, to the daughters, the sisters, and the women all around the world, I sincerely apologize and hope you can find the kindness in your heart to forgive me. Thank you.
7 Your Ride Will Begin Shortly
Track 7 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 7 as you depart Canyon Junction and listen via headphones.
. . . Your ride will begin shortly. 4. Do whatever you’re gonna do you’re not gonna stop me because my mother taught me to believe in myself. I refuse to follow those rules and the way that tey control people with low self esteem. It’s about truth, it’s about information, it’s about awesomeness, and the only luxury is time, the time you spend with your family.
And I think you’re second wave And I feel you photoshoot day Yes I do It feels like I’m emanatin from you It feels like you’re rememberin and Think your second half And I feel you missin your dad Yes I do It feels like I’m emanatin from you It feels like you’re rememberin Do I ever ignore Never be the one to guilt the poor Do I ever feel lost Do you ever wonder if you’re strange Free summer mornin Face summer mournin Gray Sunday mornin Do you ever wonder if you’re strange And I think you’re second wave And I feel you Columbus day Yes I do It feels like I’m emanatin from you It feels like you’re rememberin and Think your second half And I feel you missin your dad Yes I do It feels like I’m emanatin from you It feels like you’re rememberin
And I think you’re second wave And I feel you photoshoot day Yes I do It feels like I’m emanatin from you It feels like you’re rememberin and
Start the next track once you reach shuttle stop 3, canyon junction. Can I speak to the last person in the very last seat in the back of the room against the wall. Are you aware that your intention created this evening? Do you understand that all of this is happening inside you? I hope you can feel that and I hope you understand that you are one of the creators of this evening. And I hope you ask yourself why did I get such a crappy seat, and be okay with it. I mean you’re in the last row in the very last seat, and yet you created this. Camera flashes.
8 Feel-Good Ending
Track 8 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 8 as you depart the Human History Museum and listen via headphones.
Do you feel my any-way I call Do you feel me at all Are you out there Do you will it at all And if I don’t feel like drivin, would you still be Think think think think. And if I don’t feel like cryin, would you still be There Or does it matter what it means I feel it in between I’m feelin it Does it matter what I’m. Does it matter what Im saying, I see the game you’re playin, I’m playin it Do you feel my any way I call Do you feel that hate for me nothin at all And if I don’t feel like drivin would you still be there Or does it matter what it means, I feel it in between, I’m feelin it Would you still be there Would you still be there
Start your next track once you reach shuttle stop 1 the visitor center. Various animal sounds.
9 Zero
Track 9 of the 9 track audio composition that Tyler James Patterson created as Artist-in-Residence in 2017. Tyler designed these audio tracks as an alternative down-canyon shuttle narration. Please start Track 9 as you depart the shuttle at the Visitor Center and listen via headphones.
Zion National Park
1 Zion Park Blvd.
Springdale,
UT
84767
Phone:
435-772-3256
If you have questions, please email zion_park_information@nps.gov.
Listen to recorded information by calling anytime 24 hours a day.
Rangers answer phone calls from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT, but a ranger may not answer if they are already speaking with someone else.
