Lisa Skyhorse, a full-time saddlemaker for 40 years, will serve as Mesa Verde National Park's artist in residence Sept. 14-27.
Skyhorse will give a free public presentation of her unique art on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. on the covered porch at Far View Terrace. She will exhibit finished art pieces along with saddles and will discuss the intricacies of leather-working.
During her two-week residency, Lisa intends to paint on both leather and canvas. She will also work on the leather illustrations for a children's book written by Daniel Will-Harris titled "Ghost Horse." She is looking forward to being inspired by Mesa Verde, a place she has visited often and loved for the past 20 years.
Skyhorse and her husband, Loren, work together in Durango to create saddles for riding and collecting. They also travel the world working with nomadic horsemen and recently returned from a trip to the Altai Mountains of Siberia.
Skyhorse has branched out into fine art as well. By carving, tooling, sculpting and painting on leather, she is able to achieve images that have texture, relief and color.
Her work is on display at Toh-Atin Gallery in Durango and at the Booth Western Art Museum, a subsidiary of the Smithsonian, in Georgia. Skyhorse's work can also be seen at www.skyhorse.com.
This year's artists were selected from 45 applicants by a jury consisting of a Mesa Verde National Park ranger and three professional artists. Other 2015 artists include photographer Jerry Fleury, musician/composer David Arkenstone, plein air artist Milt Beens, and musician Marilyn Kroeker. Learn more at www.nps.gov/meve/supportyourpark/artists_in_residence.htm