Local Artist Honors Edward Abbey with Captivating Mural on Animas River Trail

Edward Abbey fans, take note. A new mural celebrating the renowned environmental advocate and author has appeared along Durango’s Animas River Trail just south of Santa Rita Park. Painted by local artist, Mariah Kaminsky, the mural honors Abbey’s legacy, whose works, like “Desert Solitaire” and “The Monkey Wrench Gang” have long celebrated the Southwest’s natural beauty and inspired environmental activism. You’re watching the “Local News Network,” brought to you by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Denise Elliott, State Farm Agent. I’m Sadie Smith. The mural is the first of three planned artworks along the Animas River Trail as part of the city’s Call to Artists initiative. The remaining two murals are expected to be completed in the next one to two years.

So the Animas River Trail Call to Artists was an effort of the city of Durango to time an arts and culture project with a natural moment of disruption, which is our parks and rec department replacing the asphalt in certain sections of the River Trail and replacing that with concrete. So we know that there’s already going to be a big disruption in these parts of the River Trail. We tried to time those with taking advantage of those natural moments of disruption to incorporate some public art. The funding came from the Lodgers’ Tax Council Determination Fund.

Kaminsky has long admired Edward Abbey, even naming her late dog after him, who is depicted in the mural. The artwork features the quote, “I choose to listen to the river for a while, thinking river thoughts, before joining the night and stars,” from Abby’s book, “Desert Solitaire.”

The Animas River Trail Call for Art came about as I was actually listening to “Desert Solitaire” on audio book while I was working in my studio, and I came across this quote and thought it would be perfect for the River Trail. I just am a fan of his work. I think it’s really fitting for this area, and I know he spent some time in this area.

Like many Durango locals, Kaminsky frequently walks the Animas River Trail. She saw the 550 underpass as the ideal spot to turn a plain concrete wall into a mural, encouraging people to appreciate the river and the natural beauty around them.

I do walk this strip a couple of times a week, and it was just the ugliest wall and it felt like it needed a lot of help, and that was one of the biggest comments I got as I was working on it. There are so many people that exercise this trail every day or commute it to work, and they were so excited to have something fresh and inspirational, instead of just the ugly, dirty underpass wall.

Kaminsky says community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Her message in the mural is to slow down and appreciate where you are at.

Slow down and appreciate where we are. I think that it’s a lot with the tourism too. Like, people come here and they got to check off all these things on their list, and that’s so not necessary. Like, just be. This is an amazing area that we live in and get to visit, and be in it and respect it.

With how busy life can get, this mural serves as a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the Southwest. More of Kaminsky’s work can be found on her website, or spot other murals she’s done scattered around Durango. For more information about this and other stories, visit durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the “Local News Network.” I’m Sadie Smith.