Serenidad Gallery 

Harriet Priska

Harriet Young Priska received a degree in Anthropology and a Minor in Art from the University of Wyoming in 1965. In 2013, Harriet helped to get Escalante designated a “National Historic District.” It is one of only 3 cities so designated in the State of Utah. The architectural survey completed after 4 years found that 42 % of the town looked like it did in 1963. Harriet and local artist, Howard Hutchison, then published the 4th Edition of the “Historic District Guide” to Escalante’s Homes, Back Houses and Barns. They both have “Painted the Town” as a salute to all who have invested their lives in this wonderful community and called it HOME!

Why I Wrote The Book

THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CENTRAL UTAH AND THE LAND THEY LIVED ON

My goal is to illustrate the Prehistory of South Central Utah with my paintings. The land is a challenging mix of canyonland, mountains and desert making it inaccessible at best. Most of the “Storied Rocks” and ruins are not easily seen by the public. I respect the desire of the Bureau of Land Management and the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument that these locations not be specifically identified. The pottery I have recreated is from broken potsherds in the archive at the Anasazi State Park Museum in Boulder, Utah and for the most part has not been seen by the public.