The Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District on Steens Mountain is set to welcome its first ever artist-in-residence this summer. Beginning June 20 for about three weeks, artist Normandy Helmer will be on site to bring her interpretations of ranch life to canvas.
“We are excited about this opportunity for both Ms. Helmer and the agency,” said Jeff Rose, Bureau of Land Management Burns District Manager. “I’m confident it will generate great conversations about the ranch and produce a unique piece of art to showcase how special this area really is.”
The Bureau of Land Management’s Artist-in-Residence Program offers opportunities on public lands for painters, photographers, potters, sculptors, musicians, and other artists to promote deeper understanding of, and dialogue about, BLM public lands. The art helps display the significance of natural, cultural, and historic resources on these public lands. The agency provides onsite housing for the artist while they complete their art project. The artist will also hold a creative community event, such as a public tour, demonstration, or workshop, to complete the program.
Ms. Helmer has been an Oregonian for over 30 years and works primarily in pen and watercolor. She and her husband John spend significant time volunteering in the backcountry, which is where she does her best work.
“Plain air encourages me to look closely at the extraordinary scenery of the Great Basin. Doing this kind of artwork requires that you sit still, which also means experiencing the beautiful landscape, hearing the bird song and the insects, feeling the sun and the breeze, often seeing wildflowers and wildlife,” explained Ms. Helmer. “I’m excited to share the beauty of Steens and its ranching history with the public.”
The Riddle Brothers Ranch is a part of the American West’s history of pioneer settlement and the development of the livestock industry. Walter, Frederick, and Benjamin Riddle were three brothers from western Oregon who secured home sites and raised livestock in and around the ranch. The brothers settled the area in the early 1900s and built their ranch by gaining control of water in the area. The Riddle brothers sold their ranch in the late 1950s and the BLM purchased the property in 1986 to manage the ranch for its historic values.
