East County News Service
April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday, April 15 hosting the first-ever Mountain Empire Art Show 2026, opening at 4 p.m. and the Boulevard-Jacumba Town Hall Event at 6:30 p.m.
The first annual Mountain Empire Art Show is an act of advocacy for the vibrant and sometimes hidden gem of the art community of the high desert east county region. Sixteen artists will show at the Backcountry Resource Center, gathered by the curation of Mara Harris who enthusiastically organized the show as an act of community activism.
Harris is also a resident on Jewel Valley Road the primary location for the Starlight Solar Project slated for Boulevard.
The art show theme is “Artists Activate Aliveness!” It is a direct response to the east desert communities’ concern of the impact of the growing number of industrial solar, battery, and wind turbine projects in the Mountain Empire region.
The art work being shown is not a direct response to the political conversation, but the gathering of the artists is.
“Art activates awareness, we artists gathering our art in community are sending a message to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors that this region is not a dead desert, but in fact a precious ecosystem filled with valuable families, unique artisans, rare plants and animals,” sHarris said.
There are numerous artist representations spanning the desert communities as west as Japatul Valley and as east as Boulder Park, and diverse mediums from: eco-organic assembled art, mixed media, film photography, acrylic paintings to voodoo dolls, and handcrafted jewelry.
A unique highlight is an interactive visual/auditory installation; participants will hear Leona Ze Zipaktli weave her poetic words while multimedia artist Mason Smith added field recordings of the natural landscape, recordings mixed by Tone Morrison; all three are Boulevard residents.
This art show brings Morgan Smith and Mason Smith, brothers and natives to Boulevard. A family of artists, mother and daughter Alanna and Luci Gray, ten years old, show side by side.
To follow the activation of the Empire Art Show, the Backcountry Resource Center will host a kick-off arts & crafts event called “The Boulevard Bazaar” at the end of May (date to be announced). This is a free arts and crafts fair for participants/vendors and attendees. The Boulevard Bazaar will follow the footsteps of the free Jacumba Market which takes place at Jacumba’s Old Bath House outdoor lot the first Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-4 p.m..
WHO:
FIRST ANNUAL Mountain Empire Art Show 2026 Featuring:
- Linda Churchill – Painter, Muralist, Gallery Proprietor – JACUMBA
- Yvonne Mena – Painter – BOULEVARD
- Leona Ze Zipaktli – Word Weaver – BOULEVARD
- Mason Smith – Painter / Photographer / Ceramicist – BOULEVARD
- Morgan Smith – Visual Artist – BOULEVARD
- Lin Lin Hu – Visual Artist / Assemblage Artist – JAPATUL VALLEY
- Steve Bolinger – Eco/Organic Mixed Media Artist – BOULEVARD
- Toni Fusco – Artist – JAPATUL VALLEY
- Alanna Grey – Photographer – BOULEVARD
- Lucille Grey – Jewelry Maker – BOULEVARD
- Jacob Willson – Film Photographer – BOULEVARD
- Webb Silverthorn – Assemblage Artist – JACUMBA
- Amanda Rogers – Visual Artist – JACUMBA
- Gabriel Dice – Sculptor – JACUMBA
- Jessica Van Arsdale & Dan Herbst – Mill, Design, Build – CAMPO
- Carl Anderson III & Syda Stark – Lapidary, Leather, Home Goods – CAMPO
WHAT:
Mountain Empire Art Show 2026
opening at the Boulevard Jacumba Town Hall Event
Art & Craft Show Opens at 4pm, APRIL 15th, come enjoy art and get to know your neighbors before the Boulevard-Jacumba Town Hall Event.
WHERE:
Backcountry Resource Center 39919 Ribbonwood Road, Boulevard, CA 91905
Art Show opens at 4 p.m., followed by the Town Hall Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.