Celebrate Utah Wildlife Contest & Exhibit 2023

In Spring 2023. The Celebrate Utah Wildlife Contest was launched, with a $10,500 cash prize contest to engage Utahns in celebrating our wildlife diversity. The contest served as the promotional launch for a multi-year statewide program to celebrate Utah wildlife with the installation of at least one wildlife mural in each of Utah's 29 counties.

As part of the outreach for the contest, we spent time at the International Sportsman's Expo and the Wasatch Flyfishing Expo, talking to people about wildlife, which species they'd put in a mural, and where. We also garnered some media attention that helped us get the word out.

With nearly 1000 entries from all ages and across the state, winners were selected in the categories of Handmade Art, Digital Art, Photography, Videography, and Digital Storytelling, Writing and Music/Sound. (See winners below). Winning visual entries were selected for an exhibit that was hung at the 2nd Annual Bonnie Ball at the Neighborhood Hive in August 2023. Some visual arts winning entries are shown below.

Select entries were also curated into a traveling exhibit, managed by Utah Division of Arts and Museums, that is available to travel statewide through 2026.

Handmade Art (see winning entries)

Children: Ages 4-11

First Place: Hannah Lawrence, Utah County, age 10, “A Little Magic”

Second Place: Mason Lyman, Utah County, age 11, “Utah Roundmouth Snail”

Third Place: McKenzie Ware, Utah County, age 10, “Goose in the Tulips”

Honorable Mention: Tyson French, Cache County, age 4, “Ducks”

Teens: Ages 12-17

First Place: Aiden Davis, Salt Lake County, age 17, ‘Lake Blanche Part I”

Second Place: Emma Lewis, Salt Lake County, age 15, “Doe in the Brush”

Third Place: Glade Western, Millard County, age 16, “Massive Mule Deer Model”

Honorable Mention: Shannon Ford, San Juan County, age 16, “A Spiral of Spawning Kokanee Salmon

Adults: Ages 18+

First Place: Paul Twitchell, Utah County, age 72, “Dry Fork Builder”

Second Place: Harmony Ferrill, Davis County, age 39, “Future Best Friend”

Third Place: Ed Barlow, Iron County, age 21, “ Monster Muley”

Honorable Mention: Brad Timothy, Davis County, age ,”Osprey Snatches Cuttthroat”

Honorable Mention: Holly Tufts, Salt Lake County, age 68, “Brown Trout”

Digital Art (see winning entries)

Children: Ages 4-11

First Place: Eleanor Droitsch, Utah County, Age 10, “Blue Builders”

Second Place: Camille Christensen, Davis County, age 10, “Rocky Mountain Elk in 3D”

Third Place: Henry Boss, Salt Lake County, age 11, “Mountain Lion”

Honorable Mention: Camille Dalley, San Juan County, age 11, “The Amazing American Goldfinch”

Honorable Mention: Seth Jacobsen, Salt Lake County, age 9, “Deer”

Teens: Ages 12-17

First Place: Josephine Goss, Salt Lake County, age 13, “Fall at Silver Lake”

Second Place: London Baker, Salt Lake County, age 16, “ Golden Hour”

Third Place: Rachel McDonald, Millard County, age 1 . “ The Beauty of Utah”

Honorable Mention: Elias Northrop, Utah County, age 15, “Rainbow Deer”

Honorable Mention: Welch, San Juan County, age 14, “ Deer in the Wilderness”

Adults: Ages 18+

First Place: Eliza Anderson, Utah County, age 23, “ Thunder Run”

Second Place: Kate Olsen, Utah County, age 22, The Eagle and the Hawk”

Third Place: Ella Davis, Salt Lake County, age 22, “Growing Desert”

Honorable Mention: Hayden Cook, Utah County, age 29, “Cutthroat Trout-Natives of the West”

Honorable Mention: Kate Olsen, Utah County, age 22, “State Bird” & "Bison"

Videography

Children: Ages 4-11

First Place: Ryan Pitt, Cache County, age 11, A Flowers Life

Second Place: David Beard, Weber County, age 9, Lovely Flaming Gorge

Teens: Ages 12-17

First Place: Marlee Mathews, Salt Lake County, age 13, Fishing with Dad

Second Place: Josie Kelly, Daggett County, age 17, Bats are Cool

Third Place: Olivia Bagley, Utah County, age 15, Flight

Adults: Ages 18+

First Place: Allen Jorgensen, Davis County, age 32, Spring Hatch

Second Place: Denise Peterson, Salt Lake County, age 40, Mother of Lions

Third Place: Sarah Chafe, Utah County, age 32, Utah my Home

Honorable Mention: Chrissy Shammas, Salt Lake City, age 27, Morning with Mountain Goats

Honorable Mention: Scott Henderson, Utah County, age 43, Steamy Urban Fox

Digital Storytelling

Adult: Ages 18+

First Place: Ryan Kelly, Daggett County, Age 46, “Baby I Was Born To Fish”

Second Place: Reed Bie, Utah County, Age 26, “Sea of Sand Shanty”

Third Place: Thomas Osimitz, Summit County, Age 66, “Singing Rock”

Honorable Mention: Jed Matthews, Salt Lake County, Age 50 “ The North Willow Incident”

Writing

Children: Ages 4-11

First Place: Akira Tera, Salt Lake County, age 9, Wildlife and its Food Chain

Second Place: Hannah Lawrence, Utah County, age 10, Be Kind to the Animals

Third Place: Oaklee Brunson, Utah County, age 11, Junipers

Honorable Mention: Oaklee Brunson, Utah County, age 11, Trees and Humans Alike

Honorable Mention: Callie Blanchard, Weber County, age 9, Deer

Teens: Ages 12-17

First Place: Hannah Noyes, Washington County, age 13, Camping with the Wildlife

Second Place: Kendra Bradford, Salt Lake County, age 17, Call of the Avians

Third Place: Josie Kelly, Daggett County, age 16, Adventures with Dad

Honorable Mention: Abigail Powell, Sanpete County, age 15, The Lonely, Perfect World

Honorable Mention: Hutson Robinson, Rich County, age 13, The Uintas

Honorable Mention: Josie Kelly, Daggett County, age 16, Dry Fly or Die

Adults: Ages 18 years +

First Place: Jazmin Lister, Utah County, age 30, Hiking Near Yankee Meadow In The Winter

Second Place: Clem Flowers, Utah County, age 34, 5 for the Beehive

Third Place: Robert Williamson, Weber County, age 64, Another Trout to Catch

Honorable Mention: Adrian Anderson, Davis County, age 45, Eagle on Top

Honorable Mention: Chelsea Lawrence, Utah County, age 38, Memorable Firsts

Honorable Mention: Kalea Acuna, Weber County, age 22, The Does Came Home

Music & Sound

Children: Ages 4-11

First Place: Benny Lister, Utah County, age 9, “Prairie Dogs Digging”

Second Place: Azuriann Lister, Utah County, age 6, “The Badger Song”

Teens: Ages 12-17

First Place: Josie Kelly, Daggett County, age 17, “ Born to Fish”

Adults: Ages 18+

First Place: George Eppel, Utah County, age 22, The June Sucker Ballad

Second Place: Jason Fullmer, Utah County, age 36, Petrichor

Third Place: Allyson Moody, Salt Lake County, age 36, Return of the Birds”

Honorable Mention: Eleanor Smith, Utah County, age 20, Cycling

Honorable Mention: Reed Bie, Utah County, age 26, Sand Sea Shanty

Honorable Mention: Jaren Hutchinson, Box Elder County, age 25, Cow Call Comrades

Photography

Children: Ages 4-11

First Place: Delilah Olson, Salt Lake County, age 10, Ahhh Did you Hear That

Second Place: Kennedy Samuelson, Salt Lake County, age 9, Owl

Third Place: Paislee Donio, Utah County, age 4, Family Drive In

Honorable Mention: Logan Moody, Salt Lake County, age 11, Blue Jay

Teens: Ages 12-17

First Place: Asher Lee, Utah County, age 15, Eared Grebes at Sunset

Second Place: Chloe Tobler, Utah County, age 17, Play Time

Third Place: Colt Waters, Utah County, 13, Porcupine Breakfast

Honorable Mention: Jacob Christensen, Sanpete County, age 16, Nebo Mountain Goat

Honorable Mention: Max Jossie, Cache County, age 15, Great Horned Owl

Adults: Ages 18+

First Place: Sean Hoover, Salt Lake County, age 52, Adoration

Second Place: Jesse Thomas, Salt Lake County, age 63, Bald Eagles Fight

Third Place: Spencer Free, Utah County, age 23, Mountain Goat Family

Honorable Mention: Lynn Shinney, Utah County, age 65, Zions Desert Bighorn

Honorable Mention: Jess Thomas, Salt Lake County, age 63, Barn Owl Wink

Honorable Mention: Ryan Kelly, Daggett County, age 45, Cluster Eater

Digital & Handmade Art Winners Gallery

"Thunder Run"

First Place Submission, Digital Art (18+), by Eliza Anderson, Age 23 of Utah County.
Artist Statement: An unforgettable experience awaited me last year when I witnessed the untamed beauty of the Onaqui Mountain wild horses in Tooele County. Hundreds galloped past me and my family, kicking up so much dust that it was hard to see the herd. Of all the senses that memory evokes, the sound resonates most strongly with me. Hearing the thunderous hooves drumming against the dry, grassy ground was intimidating yet awe-inspiring. I chose to draw a horse to capture the essence of Utah's rich Western history. The mere presence of a horse symbolizes untamed landscapes and the spirit of rugged pioneers. The pinto I illustrated was inspired by one that stood out to me in the herd. The pattern on her coat was so interesting because it looked like continents. It was as if the horse somehow documented her journey. Storm clouds gather in the background of the artwork and imitate the rumble of hooves as the horse speeds past the viewer. The sunlight bestows the horse with ethereal energy and illuminates the trail forward. Dust catches the light, and for a moment, it seems like the horse is racing upon golden clouds. Overall, my artwork strives to capture the fleeting nature of this precious moment, using loose painterly elements to imbue it with a sense of movement and energy.

"The Eagle and the Hawk"

Second Place Submission, Digital Art (18+), by Kate Olsen, Age 22 of Utah County.
Artist Statement: I created this artwork because I was inspired by the constant cycles that exist in nature. The migration of birds, the changing of seasons, the passing of the sun in the sky, and so many more. I wanted to illustrate the consistency of the flow of time, and represent some of Utahs natural beauty. The red tailed hawk inspires freedom while the constellation of the eagle in sky detonates guidance. The fleeting dandelions in the wind show change as they rise up to meet the strength and majesty of Mt. Timpanogus in the background. Throughout all of this cycling and change, the wildlife remains steady and beautiful. It inspires me to move forward, even though the outcome may seen uncertain.

"Growing Desert"

Third Place Submission, Digital Art (18+), by Ella Davis, Age 22 of Salt Lake County.
Artist Statement: A duality exists in the desert between Utah wildlife and humans. When one population grows, it pushes on the other and creates the need to adapt. The landscape is ephemeral and ever-changing, just like the population that imposes on it. However, when one population grows, the other is forced to move. What happens when both populations are growing at an exponential rate? This question surfaces when looking at Bighorn Sheep in Southern Utah.

"Cutthroat Trout - Natives of the West"

Honorable Mention, Digital Art (18+), by Hayden Cook, Age 29 of Utah County.
Artist Statement: I have always been interested in and passionate about native species conservation, but the species I’m by far the most invested in is the cutthroat trout. These beautiful fish call cold-water streams, rivers, and lakes found throughout the west home, and for thousands of years they lived and thrived in their respective habitats without disturbance. But with the westward expansion of America, many of these fish were negatively effected. Whether that be from habitat loss, overfishing, or being out-competed by non-native species introduced out of ignorance, the cutthroat was too sensitive of a species to handle the changes. Numberless populations of these fish were decimated, and in some instances, entire subspecies of cutthroat trout were lost to extinction. But thankfully, through modern fish management practices and increased understanding of the importance of native trout conservation, many of these species have been restored to their original habitats. Utah is one of the states that has a success story to share when it comes to native cutthroat conservation, as can be seen through the Utah Cutthroat Slam program, something I was only introduced to last year but absolutely fell in love with. I loved learning about the distinct subspecies of cutthroat trout found throughout Utah, Colorado, and other western states, and decided to do my own cartoon-like representations of some of my favorite cutthroats. I began with only the intention of drawing Utah’s cutthroats, but it quickly grew into a school of other cutthroats, and there are even more than this! But even more than I loved drawing these cutthroat subspecies, I enjoy chasing these natives with fly rod in hand. The Utah Cutthroat Slam opened my eyes to joy and excitement of angling these native fish, and I look forward to the many adventures I have planned ahead in order to find more of these beautiful cutthroat!

"State Bird"

Honorable Mention, Digital Art (18+), by Kate Olsen, Age 22 of Utah County.
Artist Statement: The wonderful story of the seagulls saving early Utah settlers from starvation is inspiring. Our state bird, the California Seagull represents triumph in times of trial, and I wanted to express that in this digital painting.

"Bison"

Honorable Mention, Digital Art (18+), by Kate Olsen, Age 22 of Utah County.
Artist Statement: I have always been inspired by the power of the Bison! They represent the strength and endurance of Utahs wild lands. I wanted to represent them with this simple spot illustration, centered on the wonderful creature.

"Fall At Silver Lake"

First Place Submission, Digital Art (12-17), by Josephine Goss, Age 13 of Salt Lake County.
Artist Statement: In fourth grade for a school field trip, we walked around the boardwalk at Silver Lake. We encountered a magnificent moose with big antlers. It was in the fall and all the leaves of the Aspen trees were a whole array of colors. The experience was unforgettable, and it will forever be one of my favorite field trips. I decided to incorporate all of the memories into this piece. From the bright rainbow of plants and leaves, to the pretty Aspends, and of course, the moose.

"Golden Hour"

Second Place Submission, Digital Art (12-17), by London Baker, Age 16 of Salt Lake County.
Artist Statement: I felt inspired to create this piece because of a picture that my dad took while he was hunting. I've always admired Elks and when I saw the photo of the elk in the beautiful yellow glow and the field of flowers, I knew I had to draw it.

"The Beauty of Utah"

Third Place Submission, Digital Art (12-17), by Rachel McDonald, Age 14 of Millard County.
Artist Statement: A view into the perfection of Utah. A true beauty that can be found all across this amazing land.

"Rainbow Deer"

Honorable Mention, Digital Art (12-17), by Elias Northrop, Age 15 of Davis County.
Artist Statement: As the artist behind this digital artwork of a rainbow deer, I aim to express the beauty and complexity of the natural world through a digital medium. The deer, a symbol of grace and gentleness, is transformed into a vibrant and colorful creature that embodies the diversity and richness of nature. Through the use of digital tools and techniques, I have created a visually striking image that invites viewers to reflect on the intricate and wondrous beauty of the world around us. I aim to convey the idea that nature is not limited by a single hue or tone, but rather is a constantly changing and evolving tapestry of colors and textures. Furthermore, the rainbow deer serves as a reminder that beauty can be found in unexpected places. The blending of different colors and tones creates a sense of harmony and unity, reminding us that diversity should be celebrated rather than feared. Overall, my artwork is an expression of my deep love and appreciation for the natural world, and my belief that digital art can be used as a powerful tool for exploring and celebrating its many wonders. I hope that viewers of this piece will be inspired to reconnect with the natural world and to see its beauty in new and unexpected ways.

"Deer in the Wilderness"

Honorable Mention, Digital Art (12-17), by Charles Welch, Age 14 of San Juan County.
Artist Statement: In this 3d model that I created on Tinkercad.com, it shows a deer walking peacefully through a grassy area with a tree. I created this model because where I live in Utah there are lots of deer just wandering around town.

"Blue Builders"

First Place Submission, Digital Art (4-11), by Eleanor Droitsch, Age 10 of Utah County.
Artist Statement: One thing I love about spring in Utah are the beautiful mountain blue birds. This year, two pairs of them were coming to our plant-pots to gather straw and leaves to make their nests. I was inspired by them, so I used that inspiration to make this piece of art, which I think turned out quite nice!

"Rocky Mountain Elk in 3D"

Second Place Submission, Digital Art (4-11), by Camille Christensen, Age 10 of San Juan County.
Artist Statement: I created a model of a Rocky Mountain Elk on Tinkercad at tinkercad.com, which is a 3D modeling app. I could not upload the actual file, so I took some screenshots and uploaded the best one. I will be 3D printing the actual model at my local library. I chose the Rocky Mountain Elk, because I recently did a school project about them. Elk are important to Utah history because Native Americans used them for food and leather. It is the state animal of Utah. Also, my family eats elk meat more than any other meat because my grandpa hunts it. In conclusion, I chose a Rocky Mountain Elk because it is important to Utah history and to my family.

"Mountain Lion"

Third Place Submission, Digital Art (4-11), by Henry Boss, Age 11 of Salt Lake County.
Artist Statement: Mountain lions are a cool, scary, & rare sight. They are found in a lot of states, but in Utah there are some in most places.

"The Amazing American Goldfinch"

Honorable Mention, Digital Art (4-11), by Camille Dalley, Age 11 of Davis County.
Artist Statement: This my illustration of an American Goldfinch. One of the most beautiful birds (in my opinion) that lives in Utah! These birds usually live in Northern Utah but can still be found in the more southern parts. Have you ever seen one?

"Deer"

Honorable Mention, Digital Art (4-11), by Seth Jacobsen, Age 9 of Salt Lake County.
Artist Statement: My deer. I thought it was a moose. But my mom said it looked like a deer. I used a blending tool to blend the colors together. I thought that it looked good. Thanks, bye, Seth

"Dry Fork Builder"

First Place Submission, Handmade Art (18+), by Paul Twitchell, Age 72 of Utah County.
Artist Statement: This picture was inspired by my thousands of trips to the lakes, streams, and mountains throughout Utah. The Beaver was probably the first water conservationist and construction manager in Utah. This was a fun piece to paint

"Future Best Friend"

Second Place Submission, Handmade Art (18+), by Harmony Ferrill, Age 39 of Davis County.
"Artist Statement: I once read a story about a little girl who left food out for her neighborhood crows. After years of doing so, she started to find little colorful or shiny trinkets left behind for her. One of the gifts was a sprig of pine with a soda pop tab threaded onto it. As I watch my local murder of crows circle near my yard, I toss a handful of walnuts onto my porch and send them friendly vibes. I hope that one day I will be best friends, trinkets and all, with these clever, wild creatures.

This artwork was created using hand-cut stencils and spray paint, specifically for the Celebrate Wildlife Project. Sadly, the soda pop tab is symbolic and wasn't a gift from a crow (yet!)."

"Monster Muley"

Third Place Submission, Handmade Art (18+), by Ed Barlow, Age 21 of Iron County.
Artist Statement: I'm always in awe at the magnificent wildlife the great state of Utah has to offer. However, of all the animals, Mule Deer are probably my favorite! I created this drawing of this "Monster Muley" with pen and white charcoal pencil on toned tan paper.

"Brown Trout"

Honorable Mention, Handmade Art (18+), by Holly Tufts, Age 32 of Salt Lake County.
Artist Statement: I have long loved the practice of creating artwork with paper collage. During times when fly fishing (my other passion) is not possible, revisiting my most memorable fish through my art is both rewarding and relaxing. This collage is of the first brown trout I ever caught over 20 inches.

"Osprey Snatches Cutthroat"

Honorable Mention, Handmade Art (18+), by Brad Timothy, Age 68 of Davis County.
Artist Statement: I’ve witnessed an osprey snatch a trout on the river and drop that fish at the feet of a great blue heron on shore, as if to say, “here you go friend”. I’ve watched osprey deliver fish to their nests for young to eat as well as feeding on their catches while sitting in large Box Elder trees. Osprey use stealth attacks to catch their prey fish at the waters surface as they fold their wings and drop from the sky at great speeds. Osprey are magnificent birds to observe any way you find them.

"Lake Blanche Part I"

First Place Submission, Handmade Art (12-17), by Aidan Davis, Age 17 of Salt Lake County.
"Artist Statement: Just below the S-Curve up Big Cottonwood Canyon, sits the Lake Blanche Trailhead. After about three and a half miles of rugged, uphill trekking you’ll come across the iconic Lake Blanche, accompanied by her sister lakes, Florence and Lillian. While the alpine terrain with its beautiful exposed rock and tall conifers is stunning, the real beauty is found under the water.
Brook trout and grayling (see part II of this project) are the two species that inhabit these lakes. Known for their unique coloring and feisty attitude, brook trout have been chased after by anglers for years. I aim to capture that beauty through every step of my artistic process.
While shaping and carving my pieces, I am trying to achieve an accurate portrayal of a brook trout’s somewhat aggressive attitude. During the painting process, my goal is to capture not just the overarching points of the fish but the many small details, right down to the blue halos behind the red dots.
The final epoxy clear coat is arguably the most important part of the entire process. If it goes wrong you have a bad looking piece and dozens of wasted hours. If it goes right you have a beautiful finish that accentuates the lines of the carving and smooths, brightens and adds depth to the paint job.
Finally we are left with a beautiful piece of art that hopefully gives justice to the stunning species of fish that are brook trout."

"Doe in the Brush"

Second Place Submission, Handmade Art (12-17), by Emma Lewis, Age 15 of Salt Lake County.
Artist Statement: This is a sketch of the deer that reside in my neighborhood year-round. I used graphite pencils with varying degrees of hardness and softness to best mimic the textures of the doe's shaggy coat. I was inspired to draw this when I saw the deer in my yard after the first week of spring weather, nibbling on buds and sparse green blades of grass. She is a mule deer that strolls past our house at dusk, accompanied by the twin fawns she gave birth to last year. This piece was made in honor of the deer herd in my neighborhood, and the vast spectrum of native wildlife in Utah.

"Massive Mule Deer Model"

Third Place Submission, Handmade Art (12-17), by Glade Western, Age 13 of Millard County.
Artist Statement: The reason I did this project is because in my little town of Oak City there are mule deer everywhere. I will walk out my front door and see a mule deer munching on my tree. Another reason I did a mule deer is because my dad is a taxidermist and I have been around the animal a lot and came to like looking for its sheds and hunting this beautiful animal, the mule deer.

"A Spiral of Spawning Kokanee Salmon"

Honorable Mention, Handmade Art (12-17), by Shannon Ford, Age 16 of San Juan County.
Artist Statement: I was thinking about the way salmon become a totally different beast when they're spawning. I wanted to paint the two different fish. I saw videos on the news of the Kokanee Salmon near Strawberry, and I have seen salmon at a fish hatchery. I love the way they glow before they lay their eggs and die. I wanted to show the circle of death and life.