Hurst Public Art Project

Rooted in the Gunnison Valley, my work combines land, material, and story through large-scale mixed media paintings. For the Hurst Hall renovation, I propose a site-specific triptych that honors the region’s ecology, Indigenous history, and scientific legacy. Visually inspired by our local desert paintbrush flower (Castilleja linariifolia), each of the three panels will mirror the plant’s life cycle—from the vivid red and yellow bracts at the center, moving outward into the surrounding leaf structure and deep-rooted system below. This botanical focus directly connects to the Edith’s checkerspot butterfly, which feeds almost exclusively on this flower in Gunnison County, echoing the butterfly mosaic from “Wingscape”. Historically, the Ute people also used the paintbrush flower as a seasonal food source, grounding the work in both natural and cultural tradition.

My artwork weaves land, material, and story into large-scale mixed media paintings. I create handmade paint using soil from the local landscape—including the iconic W Mountain—alongside ash, willow, and other organic materials, blending them with historic pigments such as cochineal insects, indigo, and madder root. These natural sources are bound with seaweed-based sodium alginate and expanded through the use of oil pastel to build color, texture, and durability.

Accompanying the artwork will be a display of natural pigments and soils used in the piece—each presented in labeled glass petri dishes incorporated into the signage. Each sample will include the pigment’s common name, scientific name, and simplified chemical references (e.g., the Jenny soil formation equation: S = f(cl, o, r, p, t, ...) or Rubia tinctorum for madder root: C14H8O4). This installation invites viewers to experience the relationship between geology, chemistry, and creativity—bridging the disciplines of art and science.

A formal land acknowledgment honoring the ancestral homeland of the Ute people will also be integrated into the installation. This addition situates the artwork within a broader context of gratitude, place-based learning, and historical awareness.  The work encourages Western students to connect with the land through art and science, reflecting the university’s mission of place-based and interdisciplinary learning.

The ADA three framed mixed media paintings 48”x48”x2” each totaling 4’x12’x 2” will be rendered on archival canvas and finished with a UV-protective varnish for scratch resistance and long-term preservation. Each piece will be securely mounted using a locking security cleat system to ensure stability and theft prevention. The installation is designed for durability and requires little to no maintenance beyond occasional dry dusting.



I’ve lived, taught, and made paint in the Gunnison Valley for 19 years, and my past public artworks have been completed on time, within budget, and constructed to endure. This project for Hurst Hall will reflect the deep connections between material, place, and memory, echoing the themes of “Wingscape” while offering a grounded, poetic exploration of the valley’s layered story.