Local artists raise $7K for educational programs at Cedar Breaks National Monument

Local artists gather to make a $7,000 check presentation for educational programs at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 8, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — With construction of the new visitor contact station at Cedar Breaks National Monument well underway, the local community continues to raise funds in support of the initiative and future educational programming.  

L-R: Local artist Arlene Braithwaite, Zion Forever Project assistant director Stephani Lyon and Cedar Breaks Superintendent Kathleen Gonder are on hand for a $7,000 check presentation for educational programs at Cedar Breaks National Monument, Cedar City, Utah, Nov. 8, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Local artist Arlene Braithwaite recently coordinated with other artists in the Iron County community to raise funds through the sale of their paintings and other works including glass sculptures, wood carvings, decorative quilts and printmaking. Their combined efforts raised $7,000 to be donated for educational programs to the Zion Forever Project, the official non-profit partner of Cedar Breaks. 

The art event, which featured the works of more than 20 local artists, was hosted at Cedar City’s Library in the Park, with sales coordinated through Artisan’s Gallery located at 94 W. Center Street.

Cedar Breaks Superintendent Kathleen Gonder and Zion Forever assistant director Stephani Lyon were on hand Monday at the Art Center Gallery at 111 S. Main Street for the check presentation and to show their appreciation to the artists. Their donation will go toward funding natural and cultural education programs at the park, Gonder said. 

“As a longtime resident and lover of our public lands and the outdoors, we all have an obligation to help fund these efforts for the residents of Iron County and the visitors that come from all over the nation and the world,” Braithwaite said.

Added Lyon: “This effort truly was started at the grassroots. The Zion Forever Project will use these funds in coordination with the park to ensure they are put to the highest and best use when it comes to enhancing the visitor experience at Cedar Breaks. The monument is not only a protector of the natural resources but an economic driver here in Iron County. We could not be more proud.”

Gonder added that she has been excited to see the local community’s support and involvement and is already looking forward to 2023, when it’s anticipated that the new visitors center will be completed.

“I want to invite each and every resident of Iron County to take a trip up here to the monument and see the work being accomplished,” Gonder said. “When the facility is finished, we invite everyone to the ribbon-cutting event to celebrate with us.”

Participating artists, whose works encompassed a variety of media, included Debbie Robb, Nick Froyd, Mona Woolsey, Brad Holt, Ron Walter, Mary Jabens, Megumi Dold, Arlene Braithwaite, Tiffany Marchant, Rob Hale, Erin Shakespear Bishop, Micah Player, Kim Twitchell, Robyn Twitchell, Carrie Trenholm, Valarie Orlemann, Diane Asay, Dorothy Uherka, Tina Dickenson, Sue Cotter and Tina Davis.

Written by Zachary Almaguer, Zion Forever Project.

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