‘Protecting this land’: Conserve Southwest Utah hosts art show, auction – works of art still available

Written by Stephanie DeGraw
April 7, 2023

ST. GEORGE — Over 75 people gathered Saturday morning for the opening weekend of the Conservation Art Show & Silent Auction hosted by Conserve Southwest Utah. The display and silent auction run until the end of April.

(L-R): Conserve Southwest Utah Executive Director Holly Snow Canada, stewardship coordinator Fred Armstrong, board member Kerry Burt, board member Karen Goodfellow, board president Art Haines, board member David Hatch stand together at the Conservation Art Show & Silent Auction at MoFaco, St. George, Utah, April 1, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

“We are so grateful for the artists who donated their beautiful pieces to support our conservation mission and to members of the community who have already stopped by to bid on their favorite art or just admire the inspiring conservation-themed art,” Holly Snow Canada, executive director for Conserve Southwest Utah, told St. George News. “Four of the 16 silent auction art pieces sold quickly at the ‘Buy it Now’ price. Many other pieces have already met the minimum bid, but several fabulous works of art are still available to bid on or purchase.”

The silent auction runs until the close of business on April 30 at MoFaco, 55 N. Main Street in St. George. The art was donated for the silent auction, Snow Canada said, and all of the proceeds from the auction will benefit Conserve Southwest Utah. The group is a 501(c) nonprofit whose mission is to protect Southern Utah’s natural and cultural resources and advocate for policies that allow growth while conserving and restoring these resources. 

Anyone can bid or purchase the rest of the art by visiting the art show at the back part of MoFaco. There are clipboards by each art piece with more information on how to bid or purchase the art at the “Buy it Now” price. The art display features oil, watercolor, mixed media and photography from many revered local artists.

Snow Canada said proceeds would benefit the protection of Southwest Utah’s distinctive environment, including preserving the many desert species and plants that call this area home. 

She said part of this preservation includes the area proposed for the Northern Corridor Highway, a proposed four-lane highway that would slice through and threaten the natural ecosystems and beautiful landscapes of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, which is one of 17 national conservation areas within the United States.

“We are fortunate to actually have two national conservation areas in Washington County, the Red Cliffs and the Beaver Dam Wash,” Snow Canada said. “These were established to protect and conserve the land for current and future generations because of their exceptional scientific, cultural, ecological, historical and recreational value.

“By protecting this land, we support and enhance our own lives and species biodiversity, which is interconnected with the livability of our local community.”

Most of the show’s artists were featured in the Protect Red Cliffs Zine, published in 2022 to showcase the area’s rare beauty through art and narrative designed to advocate for the protection of Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

Art display at the Conservation Art Show & Silent Auction at MoFACo, St. George, Utah, April 1, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

“I’m pleased to be a part of a show that will ultimately foster the protection of limited resources threatened by continued growth in an area recognized as the fastest growing county in the nation,” artist Andrea Ell said.

Many artists have long been conservation supporters and friends of Conserve Southwest Utah. Snow Canada said they originally planned to showcase primarily not-for-sale art, plus a few silent auction pieces. 

“But when we put out a call for artists for the conservation show, we were floored by the number of artists who wanted to donate their work to Conserve Southwest Utah in support of our mission,” she said. “This artist community is incredibly generous and cares deeply about protecting our precious natural environment. We can’t thank the artists enough for their support.”

The Conservation Art Show & Silent Auction is important, Snow Canada said, since the group relies on community donations to support their work to protect Southwest Utah’s public lands, water resources and community livability. 

“While this art show is a fundraiser for Conserve Southwest Utah, it’s also an educational opportunity. We are honored to showcase conservation-themed art that inspires protection of this special place we call home,” she said.

Conserve Southwest Utah is a grassroots environmental advocacy group, which means that it represents many citizens. 

“We work to uplift the many conservation voices within our local community,” Snow Canada said. “Our vision is a livable community that is healthy, connected, eco-conscious, prosperous and equitable.”

The organization hosts frequent volunteer opportunities on public lands and has ongoing habitat restoration projects and the Mojave Desert tortoise surveying and monitoring outings.

Conserve Southwest Utah accepts donations year-round on its website.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie DeGraw is an award-winning journalist. For 25 years, she engaged in journalism, broadcasting and public relations. DeGraw worked for the Salt Lake Tribune, Associated Press and The City Journals. She was a reporter for a CBS television station in Twin Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Broadcasting.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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