Artwork for the Thompson Divide
Linking work to life passions
A life goal of mine is to link what I do for a job to how I would prefer to spend my time. A true synergy of work and life. Projects like this painting are a prime example of this union.
It all started with the desire to host an art show at REI—a tall dream, no doubt. Well, when you put that energy out into the universe, you would be surprised by what comes back your way. Recently, I've had the great opportunity to sell some of my products at the Glenwood Springs REI. This opportunity has formed a great relationship with their local buyer, Chayla. And because of this growing friendship, I've had the chance to bend Chayla’s ear with my wild ideas. She has been very receptive and downright supportive, and I can’t thank her enough.
After a brainstorming session on art show ideas, we settled on the thought of leaning into my mission at Stray Wild: restoring our love for the outdoors through art. Why not let that art do the work of inspiring a devotion to the lands and wildlife we all need around? It is safe to say I am not alone in this belief, and many organizations exist to aid Mother Nature’s call.
One such impressive organization is Wilderness Workshop. They have been working to protect the wilderness, water, and wildlife of Western Colorado’s public lands since 1967. And what a wonderful job they have been doing! We landed on them specifically because of what they do and their relationship with REI as a local nonprofit partner.
The next step was to reach out to them and pitch em on the idea of using art to highlight one of their projects of protection. After an intro call and some show and tell we landed on the project efforts of protecting the Thompson Divide area from future resource extraction.
The Thompson Divide area, sprawling across the Roaring Fork Valley region, is under threat by oil and gas development.
Currently, this land is not only home to an astonishing amount of wildlife but also serves as a source of over $30 million in annual economic output for the region. It supports local jobs and provides opportunities for world-class recreation. Hunters, anglers, ranchers, hikers, and bikers all rely on this place for their well-being and livelihood. The Biden administration has initiated the process for an Administrative Mineral Withdrawal, which would protect 225,000 acres of public lands from future oil and gas leasing, as well as mining.
This is where the art comes in. We are using this painting and its prints to help drive financial contributions during Giving Tuesday and to raise awareness around the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act—a comprehensive public lands bill aimed at protecting the landscape and preserving existing outdoor recreation opportunities to bolster the economy for generations to come.
Titled "Love Thompson Divide," the art is inspired by a snippet in time where the sun is just right for the wildlife to come out and feel the rays. A ritual that may be disrupted if the land is left unprotected from resource extraction.
The medium is a combination of latex and gouache paint, with touches of silver foil to mimic the sheen of our sun. The total size is 18x24 on a wooden panel. Prints are available at the Glenwood Springs REI until supplies run out.
