Powder Mountain: Where Art Meets Adventure in Utah's Largest Ski Resort

Powder Mountain, the expansive ski resort in Eden, Utah, is set to become a haven for art lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Recently acquired by Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, this 12,000-acre property is launching an ambitious public art program that will showcase large-scale sculptures and land art throughout its skiable terrain and beyond.Established in 1972, Powder Mountain boasts 156 ski runs and numerous hiking and biking trails, making it one of North America's largest ski resorts. The new art initiative aims to enhance this already impressive landscape with works from renowned artists, creating a unique fusion of nature and creativity.The inaugural round of permanent acquisitions and site-specific commissions includes an impressive roster of artists. James Turrell's walk-in light installation, "Ganzfeld Apani," originally featured at the 54th Venice Biennale, will find a new home in a trailside pavilion. In partnership with the Holt/Smithson Foundation, a significant Nancy Holt work from the 1980s will be permanently installed at the resort. Other notable projects include Jenny Holzer's text-based engravings on rock and an immersive installation by Utah native Paul McCarthy, exploring American West mythology. EJ Hill, fresh from his MASS MOCA solo exhibition featuring a functional roller coaster, will design two of the mountain's new ski lifts. Arthur Jafa, Nikita Gale, Gala Porras-Kim, and Raven Halfmoon are also contributing to the project, with more artists to be announced soon.Matthew Thompson, Director of Powder Mountain's art program, explains the vision: "We aim to integrate art seamlessly into the landscape and seasonal rhythms of the mountain, connecting with the legacy of land art in the American West. Our goal is to empower a diverse range of artists to create ambitious experiences that broaden the story of land art and expand its possibilities."Powder Mountain's location is significant, being within a few hundred miles of some of the world's most impactful land art pieces. From ancient petroglyphs to Robert Smithson's "Spiral Jetty" and Nancy Holt's "Sun Tunnels," Utah has a rich history of human engagement with the land. The new art program at Powder Mountain seeks to continue this tradition, offering visitors a powerful interaction with both nature and art.