The Bureau of Land Management and Friends of Organ Mountains Desert Peaks announces

the selection of Kayla Blundell to the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Artist in

Residence Program. The program utilizes the artist’s unique skills to depict the historic, cultural,

geologic, and plant and wildlife features that provide a deeper understanding of public lands.

The Artist will be on public lands capturing images of the National Monument from

September 1-30 th , 2016. In addition, the artist will conduct a project to connect our community to

the National Conservation Lands.

Kayla Blundell states, “I am truly grateful to be selected as the Artist-In- Residence for the Organ

Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument for September 2016.  It’s my goal to promote the

natural beauty of the Organs and to share awareness to preserve its historical value, so that

generations from now the Organs will still be as beautiful as today because of the part we can play

in helping to preserving it.”

“The Artist in Residence Program continues to highlight the excellent arts community here

in Southern New Mexico and our public lands.” Ben Gabriel, Executive Director of the Friends of

Organ Mountains Desert Peaks. “I am very excited to see what works Kayla will produce and what

story she tells of the National Conservation Lands system.

The Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument was established on May 21 st , 2014.

As part of the National Conservation Lands System the nearly 497,000 acres are some of the west’s most iconic landscapes. The Bureau of Land Management manages the National Monument.

For more information about the Artist in Residence Program please contact Ben Gabriel at

575-323- 1423 or email info@organmtnfriends.org.

About the Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks

PO Box 2676 ● Las Cruces NM 88004 ● Phone 575-323- 1423 ● E-mail info@organmtnfriends.org ● www.organmtnfriends.org