Artist Nisty Tharp of Fort Collins, Colorado, created this painting last June during a stay at Hyatt Lake as part of an artist-in-residence program administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Applicants are currently being sought for this year's program.

Artist and high school teacher Nisty Tharp spent two weeks last June taking in nature and creating artwork at Hyatt Lake in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, as part of a U.S. Bureau of Land Management artist-in-residence program that is seeking applicants for this year’s program.

“I got to be in a new and beautiful environment, feel inspired by nature and meet a lot of amazing people,” Tharp, of Fort Collins, Colorado, wrote in a statement to the agency about her experience. “I camped at Wildcat Campground — a place that included tons of natural inspiration for my drawings and paintings.”

Wildcat Campground is a 12-site, BLM-administered primitive campground.

Tharp, who teaches drawing and ceramics and creates commissioned art on the side, said she was able to “slow down, observe and create.” She specializes in landscapes, pet portraits and posters for musicians and music tours.

“I love working with acrylic paint and watercolor pencils as well as creating digital art using Procreate on my iPad,” she said.

According to the agency, all artists are encouraged to apply. There is no preference given to any style or medium.

“Artists have such a unique viewpoint on these special areas,” Joel Brumm, assistant monument manager, said in an agency news release.

Artists stay for one to two weeks at a location on the monument, courtesy of the agency. During their stay, they share their experience in a public presentation and are asked to donate an original artwork.

One artist and one alternate will be selected for this year’s program. The application deadline is Feb. 29. Apply at bit.ly/CSNMart. For more information, contact John Duwe, interpretive specialist, at 541-618-2320 or jduwe@blm.gov.

Three died while boating last year on the Rogue River

The Oregon State Marine Board reports three people died while boating last year on the Rogue River:

• David Bartecchi, 46, of Colorado died Sept. 28 when he slipped off rocks trying to free his raft at Wildcat Rapids in the river’s Wild Section below Grave Creek in Josephine County.

• Darrin Kazlauskas, 58, of McMinnville died July 20 at Hellgate Canyon in Josephine County when his kayak capsized and he suffered a “medical event.”

• A 69-year-old man died Sept. 12 at Ti’lomikh Falls on the Rogue River outside Gold Hill when his boat capsized and he suffered a “medical event.”

The agency last month reported recreational boating fatalities in the state, but listed only one death on the Rogue River, that of Bartecchi. Following an inquiry from the Rogue Valley Times about other known deaths on the river, agency spokeswoman Ashley Massey said the other two deaths involved commercially guided trips that weren’t included in the earlier statistics.

In addition to the three boating deaths, Lynn Boym, 68, and her husband, Danny Boyum, 72, both of Grants Pass, died May 12 at Indian Mary Park in Josephine County when Lynn Boyum tried to retrieve their dog from the river but became overwhelmed by the swift current and Danny Boyum entered the water and also went under. The dog survived.

Blue Book photo contest open

This year’s Oregon Blue Book photo contest is underway through Oct. 27 for amateur photographers who would like to submit their work for a chance to grace the front or back cover of the 2025-26 book. Images must be Oregon-related.

The book, which is the official directory and fact book for the state, is prepared and published by the Oregon secretary of state’s office. Contest winners will be selected in October by Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade.

“Choosing the cover photos for the Oregon Blue Book is an honor,” she said, according to a news release from her office.

The contest is open to Oregon residents of any age who earn less than half their income from photography. Images can be submitted through the Oregon Blue Book website or via the U.S. mail. For more information, contact Bluebook@sos.oregon.gov.