Community Artist in the Parks Program
The scenery within the national parks in southeast Utah inspired the creation of the
Community Artist in the Parks program.
The program began in 2009 as a way to highlight the connection between local artists and the landscapes contained within the National Park Service’s Southeast Utah Group: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and Natural Bridges National Monument.
The program gives visitors from across the globe an opportunity to see first-hand the results of artistic inspiration from wild nature. It provides local artists an ability to teach and demonstrate their medium and passion for creative expression.
Meet Chrissy Noel Kinslow, the 2026 Community Artist in the Parks
Kinslow is a Moab-based community artist whose work weaves together art, nature connection, and shared experience. Rooted in the landscapes of the Colorado Plateau, her practice centers on listening deeply and creating accessible, heart-led spaces for reflection and creative expression. Through guided art experiences, storytelling, and land-based practices, she invites participants to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world.
“Being selected as a Community Artist in the Parks feels like a deep honoring of my relationship with land, art, and community,” Kinslow says. “I look forward to creating spaces where people can slow down, listen, and connect—using creative practice as a bridge between human stories and the living landscapes that hold them.”
As the Community Artist for 2026, Kinslow will create original work within the parks for a minimum of 24 hours per month, April through October, and share her inspiration and creative process with visitors. Her work will be sold in Canyonlands Natural History Association stores and online during her tenure.
Where will Chrissy be Next?
See how she turns her inspiration into art, or join her (with your own art supplies) for a side-by-side creative endeavor. Bring water, sun protection, and your imagination.
Hovenweep National Monument
Friday, June 12
Square Tower Group
9 am – 12 pm
1 pm – 4 pm
Saturday, June 13
Cajon Site
9 am – 12 pm
1 pm – 4 pm
Saturday, June 20
Horseshoe/Hackberry Site
9 am – 12 pm
1 pm – 4 pm
Sunday, June 21
Little Ruin Canyon Overlook
9 am – 12 pm
1 pm – 4 pm
Community Artist
-
A-Z Stone & Sky Coloring Book
$24.95
-
Mini on-the-go Watercolor Kit
$60.00
-
Delicate Arch Sticker
$8.00
-
Balanced Rock Sticker
$8.00
-
Mesa Arch Sticker
$8.00