Paige Guse

 

Elko, Nevada is one of the most unique places in the country. Between the harsh climate, long history, and blend of cultures; you’d have a hard time finding anywhere quite like it.

To outsiders, this place may just be a pit-stop along I-80, a watering hole among the sagebrush, another small town in rural America; but if you spend some time here, you will find beauty in this high desert, identity in the wild west, and pride among the people that are able to thrive here.

​As a transplant to Elko, there are times I miss the landscape I grew up in, where the forest hugged me and the rivers babbled. But then the sun sets on Elko; the hills, mountains, and clouds are painted with vivid oranges and pinks, and there is silence. I forget about those trees back home. I am simply grateful to be a witness of this place.​

Panel 1. “Sagebrush Sunset”: The sharp bristly form of the desert brush in a vivid sunset landscape.

Panel 2. “Where the Cattle Graze”: A cow and her calf are found in an arid landscape of rock, dirt, and sagebrush against the endless blue sky.

​Panel 3: “Whiteout Ride”: Winter transforms the high desert into a solid backdrop of white creating striking contrast with the horse and its rider.