Artist-in-Residence Program

Summer Sarafany

Summer (Mohawk of the Bay of Quinte, First Nation) is a mixed Kanyen’kehá:ka scientist exploring traditional Haudenosaunee practices such as beadwork and basketmaking, as well as contemporary mediums such as sketching, watercolors, handlettering, and fiber arts. They approach life and art with scientific curiosity: trying things in different ways until the desired result is achieved—or an unexpected new result is discovered! After decades of living on the traditional homelands of the Haudenosaunee in New York State, they have recently relocated to Colorado’s Front Range. As an artist-in-residence at Caribou Ranch this year, they’re excited by the opportunity as a new community member to learn the flora and fauna of the mountains and find inspiration for their next art piece.

Carolyn Benitez

Carolyn Jo Benitez is a digital collage artist and photographer inspired by the spirit, strength, and style of the American West. As a lifelong horsewoman with a background in agriculture and horsemanship, her work draws from Western history, the legends of the Old West, and the enduring grit of cowgirls past and present.

She first fell in love with digital art in high school after learning Adobe Photoshop, creating collages just for fun. She also grew up participating in 4-H, where she submitted her photography to the county fair each year, earning ribbons, honorable mentions, and even scholarships. One year, she was honored to have her work featured at the local feed store in her hometown. Those early experiences with art, storytelling, and community have stayed with her and continue to influence the work she creates today. Through vintage imagery, Western iconography, and modern visual storytelling, she designs bold, expressive pieces that honor the landscape and the women who have shaped it. She is deeply inspired by classic cowgirl art, rodeo queens, and antique photographs, which she reimagines through a contemporary feminist lens—celebrating the idea that you can be a [bad***] cowgirl and a beautiful diva all at once.

Now based in Colorado, she holds a degree in Agricultural Communications with a minor in Plant and Soil Science. Her art is shaped by lived experience and a deep-rooted love for the land — its beauty, its history, and the untold stories tucked between fence posts and canyon walls. Through the Boulder County Artist-in-Residence program, she hopes to wander new trails, gather inspiration like wildflowers, and create pieces that echo the spirit of the West: untamed, resilient, and just a little bit glamorous. Happy Trails!

Bob Barrick

Bob Barrick is an American folk singer-songwriter and poet whose raw, authentic voice and disarming wit have earned him a devoted following in the modern folk scene. His performances seamlessly blend earnest songwriting with sharp social commentary and between-song banter that turns strangers into conspirators, drawing comparisons to modern troubadours like John Craigie and Langhorne Slim. It’s this rare combination of insight and humor that has made him a distinctive voice in the modern folk scene.

Recent years have marked a particularly prolific period for Barrick. In 2023, he reunited with Joshua Lee Turner to record the “Hoosier Sweet” EP at his studio in Boulder, while simultaneously undertaking an ambitious release schedule for his latest album “Little Cicero.” This monthly series, each release accompanied by a live performance filmed in a Longmont barn, reinforces what audiences have come to expect from Barrick: authentic storytelling delivered with equal parts heart and humor.