Poster art courtesy of FIBArk.
FIBArk’s 75th-anniversary poster art has been created by Salida-based artist Leslie Jorgensen for the town’s famed whitewater festival coming up from June 15-18, 2023 at Riverside Park.
FIBArk Whitewater Festival is a fundraising event to support youth paddling programs that cultivate local youth participation in whitewater sports and a lifelong understanding of river stewardship.
Jorgensen, a Salida-based artist has a studio at 121 North F Street. She says she paints her experiences skiing, hiking and biking in the Rocky Mountains. Working as a painter, she found her passion for fusing art and the wild. The mountains, the wind, and the cold have become forces expressed through her work.
“As I explored the theme artistically, I created several paintings of the Arkansas River, the skilled athletes who paddle it, and the sheer force of the water, all of which inspire me,” says Jorgensen. “Though I’m not experienced, I love any chance to paddle the river. The Arkansas is magical and forceful. The ways we experience the river are a foundational layer of our community. FIBArk strengthens and celebrates all of it.”
“I want to thank Lindsay Sutton-Stephens and the FIBArk committee for choosing me to create a special work of art for this year’s 75th anniversary event. I’m a huge FIBArk fan and I’m beyond thrilled to participate in this way,” adds Jorgensen.
Her paintings have been featured in Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Magazine, Southwest Art, Colorado Central Magazine, The Colorado Springs Gazette and Summit Daily News.
The original painting will be auctioned at the FIBArk kickoff party on Wed. June 14 at High Side! Bar & Grill. That evening cocktail event is the local launch event for residents before the big event begins; some call it the calm before the storm. Funds raised will support boating education in Salida.
“Much like the Arkansas River, Leslie’s work elevates the power and energy of nature,” said Lindsay Sutton-Stephens, FIBArk Event Chairwoman. “It’s a pleasure to showcase her work in partnership with FIBArk, especially in this milestone year. While FIBArk entails a variety of activities, at its heart, the event honors the wonder of the river. The motion and color that Leslie’s art brings to the design embraces the personality of the Festival.”
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