Imagination takes flight at every sunrise. The ethereal crimson glow of sunlight bouncing off the Navajo sandstone cliffs, set against a spotless blue sky provides the picture perfect
setting for inspired creativity. The cold breeze from the Dixie National forest perennially wafting down from the higher elevations, is continuously energizing a rare group of
artists, who meet at Gallery 24, one of the two art galleries on Torrey's main street.
A town with a population of about 100 people with two
art galleries? Yes, Torrey in
southern Utah is more than just a delightful little town. Going down on
Interstate 15 from Salt Lake City, take an exit at San Pete County or
further south at Scipio and head east. The road meanders off into a seemingly endless
expanse of green and red earth peppered with isolated little towns. Find
your way into Wayne County, and follow signs to Capitol Reef National
Park. Take it slowly, and read all the signs lest you miss the town.
While on a road trip in southern Utah, Anand Rao learned about the rather unlikely artist-haven, and detoured to find out more. Expecting the familiar art-village picture of a young and boisterous bunch of
artists dancing around a fire, he was pleasantly surprised at what he discovered. The
average age of artists in Torrey is somewhere in the mid-fifties - people who came to this quaint little paradise for different reasons. Leaving
behind their lives to start afresh in the country, reinventing the whole cycle of learning and
unlearning. Either as a well-planned retirement with a love for the quaint or as travelers who accidentally stumbled upon a well-kept secret, they somehow made this tiny hamlet their home, and found inspiration that redefined their lives.
Here is a glimpse into the lives and work of four inspired artists, who originally set out to just seek freedom, peace and quiet.
Acrylic, pen, ink, sculpture, flute, hammered dulcimer,
mandolin, guitar, bread, poached eggs “Whatever seems to happen.” Ray Conrad’s
talents are an endless stream. Self-taught, schedule-free and dealer-free, Wayne
County’s own Renaissance man is also the region’s poet laureate and a
much-appreciated cook. Originally from Minnesota, Ray Conrad did attend a
couple of years of art school but settled down as a carpenter in Salt Lake
City. About 30 years ago, he moved to Torrey to live the quiet country life. “The country
always appealed to me and at that time the drug scene was getting nasty in the
cities,” he says. He was always interested in drawing but had to move to
Torrey to realize his potential as an artist. His approach to art is as
freedom-driven and impulsive as his surroundings. Despite selling quite a few
of his paintings over the last 20 years he has no fixed structure to it. “If people
see what they like, they buy it. I don’t push to make it commercial. I just
like making pictures of what I enjoy seeing.” Come Memorial Day weekend, and Torrey hosts the Cowboy
Poetry and Art festival. Ray Conrad has been the master of ceremonies for most of those events. A regular performer as well, Ray is one of the most popular
faces in these parts and is recognized wherever he goes.
Patricia Swanson
A para-legal from Seattle decides to take a break from the
crowds and hustle. Falls in love with a remote little town, purchases land,
builds a solar energy powered house, moves in, begins to paint, and starts an
art gallery. Reads like the storyline of a beautiful happy movie. Patricia
and Brian Swanson did exactly that. “I didn’t know that I had any talent until I
moved here,” she says. Patricia actually woke up to a new life in Torrey - the
life of a painter.
She is featured in galleries in Springdale, St. George and
won the first place at the Dixie College invitation event. One of Patricia’s
paintings can be seen in the book ‘Landscape artists of southern Utah’. Started in 2001, her art gallery “Gallery 24” is the
second in the area. She with her husband Brian Swanson a metal
sculptor and four other artistes decided to start a venue to showcase their
artwork. That was 8 years back and now Gallery 24 with Torrey Gallery, are hubs of artistic activity in the region. The number would
seem very significant if one considers the fact that the population of the
whole of Wayne County is just about 2500. Patricia now has a busy schedule
running her Gallery and of course creating art. She is also a board member of
Entrada – the non-profit organization that promotes art and culture in the
region. Speaking about her role with the organization, she said, “There are two
kinds of people here. One, the locals who have been here with their families
and ranches for generations and two, us the move-ins. One of our main goals is to integrate both by
bringing differences of opinions together by using art.” Patricia’s vision for Torrey is methodical and
thoughtful growth without losing the place’s charm. “I would think it will grow
up to be like a mini Santa Fe,” she says. Speaking about the Cowboy Art and
Poetry festival, which is one of Entrada initiatives, “Keeping it accessible to
local communities rather than hosting an expensive dinner is our top priority this
year.”
Nancy Green
“My painting is a translation of my reaction to the
countryside.”
A graduate of Journalism and Librarianship, Nancy Green has
travelled the world as a professor and subject matter expert. Oil on canvas or
board was never on the agenda unless she saw “rock and light.” Her love for the
red rock started when she and her finance professional husband Jerome, went to
school together in Sedona, Az.
Originally from Sacramento Ca, Nancy lives in a designer rambler in her
favorite landscape, complete with a secluded studio.
“When we came here for vacation, I was
mesmerized by the landscape. It’s the land, the light, the sky, and the idea of
starting everything from scratch,” she says on why they decided to move to
Torrey. Never formally trained in art, Nancy’s education in painting started
about 8 years ago when Paul Davis, who taught at the University of Utah and lives close to Torrey provided the initial
guidance. Doug Braithwaite and David Dornan were others who had a significant
influence in Nancy’s early days in art. Heavily inspired by the works of Dan
Namingha, Nancy’s sights are trained on the South-Western landscape. “My art is
pretty regional. It’s all about rocks and cliffs. People who know the landscape
will appreciate it better,” she says pointing at a cliff forming on a canvas in a
corner. Her work has been displayed at galleries in St. George, Tropic, Boulder
Anasazi Museum and Gallery 24. One of Nancy’s works won the top award at the Cedar
City annual jury completion. “I haven’t settled into a process. I paint at my
own pace,” she says reflecting the relaxed attitude of many other artists of
the region. Nancy admits that she does miss the urban life at times. “I sometimes
miss the stimulation people bring,” she says. At the same time she is thankful for
the art galleries in Torrey that provide a place to not just display art but
also socialize with other artists. She also travels frequently to San Francisco,
Santa Fe and Salt Lake City. Once back home at her studio she goes into
isolation, working to create a blend of realistic and abstract all the while
listening to classical music. Living the idyllic life of an artist in the
country.
Kathleen Preston Knight
Having grown up in Philadelphia, schooled in New England, and
worked for 20 years in California bay area, Kathleen never dreamt of settling in Utah. She
was for a large part the Professor of Psychology at Humboldt State University.
Her husband, who taught at the same school, had relatives moving from Ohio to
live in Utah’s Sevier County. The Knights decided to take a vacation at the
ranch in Utah. “It was love at first sight. We both were madly in love with the
area,” says Kathleen. The hunt for a place to retire in Utah took them to
Torrey. The next two years, the couple worked on building their summer house.
They built a cabin in a picturesque spot and when it was time to retire, they
moved in without looking back. Kathleen never studied art of any kind. Her
interest, love and discovery of art came through Paul Davis the artist and teacher, who also helped Nancy Green and other artists in the area. Kathleen does pastels,
watercolors, portraits, charcoal paintings and people photography. When asked
about killing ambition by moving in to small town, she said “It would be fun to
live in big cities. But small towns are ideal for us. Young people cannot get
jobs here. We don’t need to have jobs. Even if I don’t sell any of my art, we
are fine living off pensions and social security.”
As fate would have it Kathleen and Ray Conrad both lost their
respective spouses five days apart. They now live together at a delightful
house just off the scenic byway 12. Kathleen still loves to travel to big cities
and never misses a chance to visit her children in Hollywood and Albuquerque. “Shopping
options are limited, which I miss. I don’t get the brands I like. Ray Conrad makes
bread exactly the way I like it. So we are very comfortable here. I grew up
mostly in suburbs. I seem to have a natural inclination to rural life,” she
says.
 |
| Looking out from the Rim Rock restaurant in Torrey, the venue for many annual cowboy art and poetry festivals. |
Story and pictures by Anand Rao. Originally published in partner media Utah Stories.
