Red Barrier Canyon Style Spirit Figures, San Rafael Swell, Emery County. 
Photo by Craig Law

Utah's First Artists

Tucked in among Utah's arches and the sandstone reefs, hundreds of panels of rock art are displayed on the walls of the winding canyons--painted, pecked, and drawn by Native American artists during the prehistoric past.

Utah's first artists, Western Archaic hunters and gatherers (ca. 5,600 BCE--CE 400), created many of the most striking rock art panels. And while we do not know their name for themselves, we call their painting style the Barrier Canyon style.

Utah's collection of rock art styles rank among the best in the United States--in numbers, in time-depth, and in aesthetic quality. From an estimated 23 apparent styles of Utah rock art, the Barrier Canyon style is generally recognized as the state's premier prehistoric form. The Barrier Canyon style is also one of the two major Archaic painted tock art styles in the United States (perhaps in the entire New World).

Even when considered on a global scale, the Barrier Canyon style is remarkable body of visual images. Like the European animal painters of the caves, many Barrier Canyon image-makers were true painters and a few were exceptional artists. The range of their painting technique and their grasp of the visual ideas or issues attendant to painting are truly impressive, regardless of place or time.

Craig Law, Project Photographer, is well-known and highly respected photographer who teaches at Utah State University. David Sucec, Project Director, is a visual artist, independent curator, scholar, and teacher.

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Download the Educational Materials:
Why Teach Art?
Looking at Art

2008-09 Traveling Schedule
subject to change, check back for updates

August 6 - September 8, 2008
Tooele City Arts Council - Tooele

November 25 - 27, 2008
Escalante

October 20 - November 18, 2008
Rees Elementary School - Spanish Fork

January 5 - January 29, 2009
Mapleton Elementary School - Mapleton

January 29 - March 5, 2009
Gallery East, College of Eastern Utah - Price