The 2024-25 Exhibition Installation has landed!

September 30, 2024

The voter preferences from the 2024 show were clear, but they were tied. Both were in the budget, so this year, Moab ArTTrails purchased both for donation to the public's permanent outdoor sculpture collection.
"Winter Hibiscus Leaf" by Utah artist Nathan Johansen, an elegant, small bronze, and the blue multimedia abstract "Was I Just Another One" by Arizona artist Hector Ortega are the newest works to find a forever home in Grand County. 
It is the 7th year for the rotating sculpture exhibition, and this autumn, the annual rotatation of the 2024 crop of outdoor artwork made room for the 2025 exhibit.

Early Saturday morning, September 28th, several artists aided by a crack installation crew placed 14 new sculpted art works along the downtown Moab ArTTrail. This 7th annual exhibition features compelling beauty from near and far, sculpted by award winning artists, and by locals exhibiting their work for the first time.

Installation day is one of heavy lifting, straps, and careful setting. It is also a day that celebrates the spirit of community, and its dynamic expressions of place.

Each installation day, public and the artists gather to view the exhibit, to introduce the works and their creators in the musically accompanied, artist led walk and talk, the ArtStroll. 

Best In Show this year goes to Logan, Utah artist Myles Howell for "Desert Winds", a sweeping curved marble work now seen in front of the Moonflower Market. Honorable mention was awarded to Tucson artist Steve Grater, for his patinaed steel "Matriarch".

Now installed in the heart of Moab for a year, the sculptures are available for sale to buyers, and up for consideration in the  public's permanent collection.

Simply click on the link at the top of this page for a map of this year's Moab ArTTrail.  Physical Maps of the ArTTrail are available at the Moab Information Center, at Moab Arts and Recreation Center. This year, visitors to the trail may additionally use a qr code placed on the base of the works to find out more.

Thanks to ongoing private and public support, Moab ArTTrails continues to purchase at least one sculpture per year to be donated to the public collection.

Voting for the "Keeper" from the current exhibition is open until September 1st, 2025.

The Keeper

 Each year, a rotating volunteer selection committee, composed of local community members, merchants, artists and civic representatives convene, discuss and select a show out of a wide pool of submissions from a national call to artists.

Since its inception in 2015, Moab ArTTrails has added over $110,000 of art to the public sphere with thirteen sculptures acquired for the public permanent collection. The seventh year of this program is produced with the kind support of the Moab Arts Council, the Moab Arts & Recreation Center,  Grand Countythe City of Moab, RAP tax funds, and the grace of a whole host of totally wonderful artists, foundations, private contributors, arts lovers, civil servants, builders and friends. If you are interested in more info, or participating in the  program, Moab ArTTrails is excited to hear from you!        

 

2022-2023 Purchase Award

This year we were lucky enough to purchase 2 pieces.  The 2023-24 Selection Committee along with a public vote selected "Winter Hibiscus Leaf" by Provo, UT artist Nathan Johansen and "Was I Just Another One" by Phoenix, AZ artist Hector Ortega

2-2023 copy

"Winter Hibiscus Leaf" permanently placed at the entrance of the Grand County Library

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"Was I Just Another One" Permanently placed at Dixie Park on 400E

2024-25 Best in Show

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"Desert Winds" by Myles Howell

Placed at site 3 in front of Moonflower Market

 

 

2024-25 Honorable Mention

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"Matriarch" by Steve Grater

Placed at site 10 in front of Wells Fargo

Moab ArTTrails is...

Moab ArTTrails is a non-profit organization that celebrates the vibrant culture and resilient beauty of place through the exhibition and procurement of artworks for the public’s permanent collection.

Moab ArTTrails launched its program in 2015 with a permanent gift of art to Grand County. Forces At Play. 4 large scale stone and steel sculptures by sculptor and ArTTrails Co-Founder Michael Ford Dunton stand as elegant invitation to Place, installed and enthusiastically received by the community at one of the oldest shared pathways in the Far West, the Moab Crossing at the Colorado Riverway Bike and Pedestrian Bridge.

The mission of Moab ArTTrails is...

Moab ArTTrails conserves the cultural and economic health of the community through the exhibition and acquisition of enduring public artworks which connect beauty, people and place on shared trails through time.

Sponsors

Moab ArTTrails is made possible through the generous support of foundational and individual donors and sponsors who recognize the value of art as a vital factor of a vibrant community. You can help sustain and grow this program by donating or sponsoring and artist.