Harlan Butt is Guadalupe Mountains National Park's new artist in residence
Three birds found within the Guadalupe Mountains National Park are memorialized in art produced by the park's newest artist in residence, Harlan Butt.
The Red-tailed Hawk, Stellar's Jay and Mexican Spotted Owl are integral parts of the ecosystem, a relationship that Butt's work will centralize.
Butt uses an enameling process that "melts glass onto copper cut in the shape of feathers," according to news release from the national park.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park has hosted a resident in artist for a decade. Twenty-four artists have filled that position since then.
Butt arrived at the national park on April 13, and according to chronicles of his time at the park shared via Facebook Butt has been exploring the park's trails.
More: 'Everything can be made into a treasure': Mariah Reading is Guadalupe Mountains' new resident artist
Butt chronicled his hikes to Smith Spring, McKittrick Canyon, Dog Canyon and half way to the Peak.
On April 23 he wrote: "I gave my first presentation at the Park Visitor Center at Pine Springs. After weeks of preparation, and bringing a small kiln, enamels and small copper feathers to demonstrate on, it was just too windy to even try."
"It was still fun and I had several nice conversations with visitors and a couple of little girls were so excited when I gave them each an enameled feather that it made it all worthwhile."
On May 7, Butt will offer a demonstration of his work at the park's visitor center. The demonstration begins at 11 a.m. and is free to the public.
About Butt
For 40 years, Butt has used art to explore people's relationship with wild and natural places.
More: Donna Andrews book available in library or via audiobook
He was an artist in residence in 2010 at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. In 2014 he was n artist in residence at Grand Canyon National Park; in 2018 at Acadia National Park in Maine and in 2020 an artist in residence at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
He is a professor emeritus at the University of North Texas where he taught until 2017.
Butt is the past president of the Enamellist Society, pat president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and a fellow of the American Crafts Council.
Butt currently resides in Texas with his wife, though the couple spends summers at his studio in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@gannett.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Harlan Butt is Guadalupe Mountains National Park's new artist in residence
