Rocky Mountain Speaks: Art in the Park - The Pattern of Protection: Stewardship Through Stitching

Park Event · Rocky Mountain National Park · Sep 13, 2026 · 1:00 PM–2:00 PM

About the Artist

Help us welcome Rocky's next Artist-in-Residence, Rebecca Shewmaker. Rebecca creates detailed landscape images using sewing and embroidery techniques. Each piece appears to be a traditional landscape painting when viewed from a distance. It is only when viewed closely that the intricate texture of thousands of machine and hand sewn stitches is revealed. Rebecca holds an MFA from Texas Woman’s University and has completed several national park residencies, including Zion and Glacier. In Rocky Mountain National Park, she is recording the textures of the high-alpine environment to foster a deeper connection to these protected lands.

The Pattern of Protection: Stewardship Through Stitching

Join us on Sunday, September 13, at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center at 1 p.m. for the program “The Pattern of Protection: Stewardship Through Stitching." Explore the "tapestry" of Rocky Mountain National Park through the unique lens of fiber art. Rebecca uses her intricate threadpaintings as a metaphor for the fragility of the wilderness, where every stitch—like every visitor action—leaves a lasting mark. Through a showcase of her work and the high-alpine landscape, Rebecca discusses Leave No Trace principles as "care instructions" for preserving the park’s ecosystems for future generations. This program is free. No prior knowledge or experience is needed to participate.

Support

Thank you to Rocky Mountain Conservancy for their generous support of the Artist-in-Residence program!

Source: National Park Service (public domain).