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TRAVEL/TOURS ADVERTORIAL www.nadfas.org.uk NADFAS REVIEW / AUTUMN 2016 49 Opposite: Granary niches visible in the canyon walls at Nankoweap CreekLeft: Thomas Moran (1837Ð1926)The Grand Canyon, 1909. Oil on canvasFIND THE SPIRIT OF THE DESERT WITH KEN BURNSKen Burns is one of the most loved documentary fi lmmakers of the US and, together with author and fi lmmaker Dayton Duncan, he has created a series of tours in partnership with new Tour NADFAS Affi liate, Tauck. One fi lm told the story of development of the National Parks as special places for everyone and for all time. It has inspired ‘Spirit of the Desert’, a tour of Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks. Short fi lms will take you behind-the-scenes to tell some of the stories of Burns’ and Duncan’s days fi lming in the parks, including those of several people who helped them. Duncan says: “Through them, you’ll hear rich stories and learn about the characters and events that shaped the parks – and come away with much more than a gallery of scenic pictures. We hope this trip will lead you to a deeper appreciation of the parks, create a lasting memory, and help you feel for yourself the spirit of these special places.”The ten-day tour starts at £3,350. It includes two nights at the Grand Canyon, a river trip on the Colorado, dawn and sunset excursions, 23 meals, the chance to see the Grand Canyon from the air, guides and transfers. See www.tauck.co.uk or call 0800 8108020 for details. interiors of La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, still famous for its art collection and Native American interior décor to this day). Colter used materials and styles that helped her buildings melt into the landscape – the 70ft-high Desert View Watchtower mimics the watchtowers of the Ancestral Puebloan people and affords a stunning view of the Colorado River as it emerges from the inner gorge, while the rustic Bright Angel Lodge features a huge fi replace representing the canyon’s rock layers, and Native American iconography on doors and panels.As well as the sheer scale of the canyon, it is the colours that have made it such a wonder of the world – from the sunset-hued layers of the upper rocks to the milky waters of the Little Colorado River. The area soon became a magnet for abstract artists.One of the fi rst to experiment was painter, printmaker and photographer Arthur Wesley Dow, whose works infl uenced those of Georgia O’Keeffe; and mystical landscape painter Nicholas Roerich, who is otherwise famous for his depictions of mountains. More recently, the colours and forms have been the subject of works by artists such as David Hockney, Howard Ganz, Wilson Hurley and Edith Hamlin.The canyon continues to exert its pull on artists and travellers, however it is still possible to step away from the crowds and feel the raw power and wilderness alone. Its sheer size means that no artwork can ever do this natural wonder justice – the only way to really experience it is to see it for yourself. ■ We are not endorsing any product in the Tours features. Adverts are published for membersÕ convenience. Normal terms and conditions apply (see page 3). Any travel ad carrying the Tour NADFAS logo means a commission payment is made to NADFAS on the product or trip advertised. Those that support us through advertising only will not use the Tour NADFAS name and logo.Images: Shutterstock; Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Ohio, USA. Gift of Mrs John A Hadden inmemory of Mrs FF Prentiss/Bridgeman.