Artists in Yellowstone—Thomas Moran

By Nyomi Meinhart 

Thomas Moran was born February 12, 1837, in Bolton, England, but he lived to play an important role in American conservation of wild places. At age seven, his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and later to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

When Thomas was 16 he began his artistic training in a wood engravers shop. At 18, he left woodworking and began painting. Thomas made illustrations for Scribner’s Magazine, and in fact he found out about the Hayden Expedition through Scribner’s. The Hayden Expedition went to Yellowstone as the first scientific exploration of the area in 1871. Thomas went with another artist, Willaim Henry Jackson, a photographer.

Once in Yellowstone he made sketches of the Gardiner River, Mammoth Hot Springs, Liberty Cap, Tower Fall and The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Once he had a portfolio of sketches and watercolors he went home to fix up his finished paintings. Jackson later wrote, “The wonderful coloring of Moran’s paintings made all the difference.” His art convinced Congress to preserve Yellowstone as our first national park in 1872!

Moran’s 7×12 foot painting of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone was purchased by Congress for $10,000. It hung in the White House for many years. Together they helped give America its first national park, and as they did so they became known across the country for their journey and their artwork. We will always remember Thomas Moran as the first person to paint Yellowstone. 

Editor’s Note: These student essays were printed as they were provided by Pioneer School and were unedited by Out There. To learn more about the school, visit Pioneerschool.com.

Every other year, 4^th and 5^th grade students from Pioneer School participate in Expedition Yellowstone, a National Park Service program where school groups get to choose a theme, such as history, ecology, and wildlife for a hands-on learning expedition. Pioneer School is a K-5 accredited, non-profit school for gifted and highly-capable learners in Spokane Valley.

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Shop Local

First, check out the yard art at your local nursery or garden center. Pick up something locally crafted and consigned at New Leaf Nursery in Hayden, Idaho. Discover an Olla clay watering system or shop fair trade Eangee outdoor art at Vicki’s Garden Center in Spokane. Eangee crafts eco-friendly, fair-trade products and designs for your fence, shed, yard, and patio. See their artisans at work at Eangee.com.

A lot of local lawn art crafters post on Facebook Marketplace (search “garden art”) and pop up at markets, fairs, and shows. One of the best places to find locally-made metalwork, glasswork, wind features, woodwork, and birdhouses for your outdoor space is the annual Art on the Green during the summer at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene.

You can also shop elegant statues or quirky birdbaths at Concrete Works Statuary in Spokane Valley or order a custom piece of steel art from Iron Mountain Studios in Post Falls.

Hire an Artist

The Inland Northwest is full of artists passionate about taking their art outside. Hire one of them to paint a mural on your fence, garage, or shed, and bring fresh color to dark areas. Mallory Battista, an artist based in Spokane, finds inspiration in the natural beauty that grows around her and enjoys enlivening garden spaces with murals.

“Big murals on public streets are fun,” she says, “but the personal spaces in people’s yards are just as important.” You can also ask your local art gallery for a reference or check out the signature on your favorite wall mural around town and reach out to that artist online.

Rather than cut down that old or dead tree and haul it to the dump, consider hiring Jeff May to sculpt it into a unique timber wildlife piece that can grace the same spot.

Do It Yourself

The smallest splash of color or light in a yard can make a significant difference. A quick YouTube or Internet search will provide you with a multitude of ideas to craft your own creative, sustainable, and recycled garden décor, such as recycle CDs or mismatched silverware to make a chime that can deter birds.

Or create mosaic garden art using broken dishes or glass. China plates and glass bottles can also be used as colorful edging around flower beds. Old furniture like chairs, wagons, bed posts, tubs, ladders, doors, and iron bed frames, make great planters and colorful fixtures among the greenery.

Do you have plants in pots or buckets? Have a garden art day with your kids and decorate your containers with chalk paint. Then, in a few weeks, go back out and do it again! Put a pinwheel in a few of the pots to shimmer and spin in the breeze and deter pesky birds from pecking your berries and greens.

Add something functional but also colorful, such as a hammock or hanging chair, a log bench, solar string lights, a trellis swing, or strategically-placed boulders. An immersive and calming place to relax will make your yard the perfect hangout spot on any sunny day.

Finally, gather up some sticks and stones, dust off those pebbles you picked up on the Oregon Coast in 2019, and build your own natural pillars and other creative formations. All you need is some string, non-toxic glue, and a little imagination. Then, look around you for inspiration as you build your own art into the natural landscape.

Originally published as “Beautifying Your Yard With Art” in the July-August 2021 issue.

S. Michal Bennett is a freelance writer based in northern Idaho who enjoys crafting stories, adventuring in the outdoors, digging into new and traditional culinary delights, and reflecting on life in print.

For more Outdoor Living stories, visit the column archives.

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Personalized Art – Folsom Skis

When skier Alix Whitener saw a “low-poly image of a fellow skier’s dog” on a set of Folsom custom-made skis, she was inspired. Her dog Remi’s “doberman mask would look super rad on skis,” she thought at the time. 

Whitener’s desire to capture her dog’s likeness on a pair of skis runs deeper than aesthetics. “Remi has been my adventure partner for the last seven years. [She has] run, skied, and hiked by my side…I wanted to honor her role in my life as well as treat myself to custom skis after finishing graduate school,” says Whitener. “Skis don’t last on the mountain forever, but they will look great on my wall once they’ve lived out their lives.”

 Whitener called Folsom Skis, in Denver, and shared a photo of Remi with designers and described the art style she wanted. Technical specs for the ski core were decided based on Whitener’s style of skiing. Two weeks later, her new skis arrived.

Recently, Whitener’s dog passed away. “Remi is always with me, skis or no skis. But it feels extra special knowing she’s right at my feet while I’m enjoying our favorite sport,” she says. “It’s not about having something no one else has on their skis; it’s a personal touch that’s part of who I am and what’s special to me.”

Northwest Art – Lithic Skis

Based in Peshastin, near Leavenworth, Lithic Skis is the only independent ski manufacturer in Washington State, founded by Ty Bourgeois and Paul Roberts. “We came from a company in Tahoe that was making ugly stuff—great skis but the art was painful to look at,” says Bourgeois. “Essentially, it comes down to me and Paul in the shop every day. When we look down at the skis we’re working on and can feel happy, we like that. And that translates into other people being happy about the skis. It really comes down to trying to be unique.”

 However, Bourgeois doesn’t slam other companies for not putting as much focus on the art. “There are still companies that make really generic top sheets. I like that aesthetic—simple and clean and a simple logo…We’re not trying to thumb our nose at K2 by being unique, but if it looks good and all comes together, then we’re stoked.”

This is the third season that Lithic has collaborated with a local artist. For 2019-20, the featured artist is Craig Muderlak, a climber and fellow skier in Washington. Every set of custom Lithic skis is hand made according to a customer’s desired flex and core type, and hardwoods are hand selected at the local lumber mill.

“First priority is the quality of our skis,” says Bourgeois, who, along with Roberts, skis 100 days a year—Mission Ridge is their home mountain, and they also ski at Stevens Pass. “We don’t even call it skiing. We call it ‘prototyping.’”

Art For a Cause – RepYourWater Fish Sticks by Meier Skis

Owners of two small Colorado-based companies were inspired by the crossover interest in snow sports and fishing. The result is the Meier X RepYourWater Fish Sticks collection of skis and snowboards. 

“Good snowpack is great for a ski season and also critical for healthy trout fisheries and good fishing,” says RepYourWater co-founder Corinne Doctor. “We knew that the killer graphics from us would look great on the Meier skis, especially with their natural wood aesthetic.” Debuting in 2017, there are now five designs available—one depicts the Colorado River headwaters and the others focus on individual trout species, including rainbow and cutthroat. 

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All Things Art: Located in Coeur d’Alene, the shop provides supplies and classes on knitting, crochet, and quilting.

Board & Brush Creative Studio: Located at Spokane’s South Hill, they offer workshops for DIY décor wood signs with farmhouse, vintage designs.

Brrrzaar: Terrain’s Spokane pop-up shop event, Dec. 14, for local artists, artisans, and makers to sell their handcrafted goods.

Corbin Art Center: Spokane Parks & Recreation classes and workshops for different art mediums. 

Creative Fix + Co.: Local artist-owned business hosts DIY wood home décor workshops.

Cross My Art: Community fine arts studio, based at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in north Spokane, hosts monthly art-making workshops.

From Here: Retail storefront in Spokane’s River Park Square that sells locally made fine art, pottery, jewelry, and other items and hosts artist/maker workshops.

Greencastle Soap & Supply: Open studio and DIY workshops to create your own soaps, bath bombs, and other all-natural skincare products using essential oils, herbs, and fragrances.

Hook and Needle Nook: High-end art yarn supplies and fiber arts classes; located in north Spokane.

New Moon Art Gallery: Classes and workshops for various art mediums.

Painting with a Twist: Spokane Valley studio offers DIY home décor classes, including screen art and painting on canvas or wood.

Regal Fabrics and Gifts: Located on Spokane’s South Hill, Regal hosts quilting classes and sells supplies for sewing and handbag-making projects.

Spokane Print & Publishing Center: Non-profit organization in the West Central neighborhood (formerly known as Millwood Print Works) offers letterpress, printmaking, bookbinding, drawing, and screen-printing _classes.

The Clay Connection: Full-service clay and fused glass studio with classes and open-studio times, and products, and equipment for ceramic and warm glass projects. //

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AirAligned Academy is an aerial arts training center and professional aerial dance troupe based out of Grass Valley California led by Tresa Honaker.  Injured during an aerial rehearsal, Tresa has a spinal injury from a 15’ fall and is currently paralyzed from the waist down.  Tresa, however continues to choreograph and perform throughout the United States for Corporate, Private and Commercial events. As director of AirAligned, she has collaborated with Revolutions Dance Company out of Tampa Florida, AXIS Dance out of Oakland and Wai Dance Company from Hawaii. Tresa has been dancing the majority of her life and last year was recognized by the Performing Arts Department of RHS receiving a Legacy Award for her contributions to the artistry of dance.  

Tickets: www.bingcrosbytheater.com. Ticket price: $25 plus $2 fee.

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The Flying Pig will have two wonderful artists showing off their talents inside our sandwich shop! We welcome Susan Graham and Tari Griebel!
Don’t miss this fun event! There will be over 30 artists showing off their art in the International District this Friday May 18th. You will be able to wander in and out of our local shops as well as browse through over 12 craft venders who will be set up on the sidewalk. This only comes around once a year so make sure that you don’t miss it!

The Flying Pig will be open that night and serving our great menu! So mark your calenders for this Friday! Have dinner with us, or just pop in for a quick snack or drink! We can’t wait to see you there!

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If you don’t know who Leno Prestini is he is one of the greatest self-taught folk artists the Northwest has ever produced. A very rare three-part exhibit of his work concludes this weekend. Don’t miss it. There is a great cover story about Prestini in this month’s North Columbia Monthly by Jack Nisbet, which you can find for free at Auntie’s. Here’s the show details:

The Heritage Network Celebrates the Life and Art of Leno Prestini
with Three Exhibits in August 2010

Flamboyant, adventurous, primitive, nonconformist, sensitive, vagabond, and philosopher are all descrip- tions of Leno Prestini (1906-1963) by writers from Colville, Washington to Los Angeles, California. Leno was an artist—creating over 100 paintings and drawings throughout his life, and a terra cotta modeler—providing decorative terra cotta for many buildings throughout the northwest. The paintings and terra cotta sculptures of this man of Clayton, Washington are works of outstanding artistic ability. Leno was also an adventurer and inventor— climbing mountains, searching for gold, and building his own diving gear from an old water heater tank and
garden hose. He built fireplaces and even painted on gold pans. Three historical societies will jointly display their collections of this unique and colorful man. Admission by donation to help with the expenses of setting up these exhibits. Everyone is welcome—some paintings have a mature theme.

COLVILLE, WASHINgTON — August 7 through 22
526 South Main Street — 10 am to 4 pm daily
Stevens County Historical Society, whose museum is located in Colville, will show their collection of over 70 paintings by Leno, terra cotta statues, gold pans and Prestini family photos. The exhibit is too large for their museum so it will be held in downtown Colville. The intensely personal paintings follow several themes such as: World War II, western life, prospectors’ dreams, fallacies of alcohol and greed, disappointment in love, and the passing of a more innocent age.

CLAYTON, WASHINGTON — August 14, 15, 21, 22
Clayton grange Hall, 4478 Railroad Road — 10 am to 4 pm
Clayton/Deer Park Historical Society will host this exhibit. They will display paintings, the life of Leno in photos and words, and personal memorabilia. The exhibit will feature the history and works of the Washington Brick & Lime Company whose terra cotta factory was located in Clayton from the late 1800s to the late 1950s.

LOON LAKE, WASHINGTON — August 14, 15, 21, 22
The Old Schoolhouse, 4000 Colville Road — 10 am to 4 pm
Loon Lake Historical Society has two Prestini murals on permanent display, “From Clay to Clay” and “Pony Trail” and will also exhibit paintings on loan from local individuals, painted gold pans, tiles, and never-before- seen sketches by Leno. A homemade diving helmet, pump and lead shoes used by Leno and his friends are included in their artifacts. Photos of fireplaces built by Leno will also be shown. The three societies are working together as members of The Heritage Network, a non-profit organization of 25 museums and heritage groups formed to discover and preserve historical resources within their respective communities, promote tourism associated with the historical aspects of the areas, share knowledge and skills for mutual support, and provide educational opportunities to the public. Preserving the history of Leno Prestini includes
research of his creative, unique life—his activities and accomplishments during the depression, wartime, and following; interviewing people who knew Leno; and collecting, documenting and preserving artifacts. The group has also researched the glazed terra cotta buildings throughout the northwest, including the beautiful Paulson building of Spokane and the Suzzallo Library and Art Building on the campus of the University of Washington. The Heritage Network invites everyone to visit one or all of these special exhibits to learn more about this outstanding Washington folk artist. Their website www.TheHeritageNetwork.org has more information and maps
to the events.
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