Artist in Residence: Bassam Guard Station, Salida Ranger District

In the summer of 2022, I participated in a weeklong artist residency at the historic Bassam Guard Station, hosted by the Salida Ranger District of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests. Nestled in a high-altitude grassland where livestock grazing had been excluded for decades, the site served as a living field study plot—offering a unique lens into the ecological recovery and resilience of the landscape.

During the residency, I focused on creating detailed pen and ink illustrations of the native grasses and surrounding ecosystem. Working directly from observation, I documented the subtle forms, textures, and structures of this intact grassland environment. The drawings highlight the quiet complexity of these often-overlooked plant communities. As part of the residency, I also participated in a community artist meet-and-greet event in Salida, sharing process insights and reflections on the role of observation in creative environmental work.

The final piece from this residency was featured as the cover of Colorado Central Magazine and is now on permanent display at the Salida Ranger District Office in Salida, Colorado.