Finding Nemo: Everett Ruess is Found

A sketch of the desert cliffs from my “Drawing on the Land” workshop sketchbook.

Some of my fondest memories from my college experience come from a drawing workshop put on by the faculty of Weber State University’s Art department. The workshop, appropriately titled “Drawing on the Land” took place over the course of 7 days in the Wilderness of Southern Utah.

The class involved morning sessions where we studied drawing fundamentals, and then afternoons of exploration, drawing from nature, and journaling. The experience was truly immersive and the sketchbooks I created from these classes (I took it 3 times) are some of my most prized possessions.

At the end of each day of drawing, we gathered back together at the campsite for a group prepared dinner and campfire discussion. The story of Everett Ruess, a 17 year old from Los Angeles, California who became disillusioned and disgusted with the Hollywood lifestyle. He decided to abandon civilization and roam the southwestern desert. He purchased a mule, and named it Everett, and began to call himself “Nemo.”

Everett’s writings were inspiring. He wrote letters to his parents describing his adventures. He also wrote deep philosophical thought about life, his journey, and the civilization that he left behind.

The world is hell bent for destruction, writhing from one snare into another, becoming more and more hopelessly involved in vicious, unbreakable circles, and gaining momentum on the wretched road to Ruin.

When he was 20 years old, Everett disappeared into thin air. His mules were found, but no trace of his body was ever found. His artwork, writing and mysterious disappearance made him a perfect symbol of leaving civilization to explore, think and write.

There was a certain mystery that made the story even more interesting, the myth that perhaps Everett had completely disconnected from civilization, and that there was some small chance that we might come across a hundred year old man who had spent his life living in the desert.

Now as uncovered in the latest issue of “National Geographic Adventure Magazine”, the body of Everett Ruess has been found. DNA evidence, a witness of Everett’s murder by Indians, and a lonesome burial by the witness make an interesting tale, and bring about an end to the mystery.

While my hopes might have been for a different ending, Everett’s prophecy seems to have been fulfilled…

And when the time comes to die, I’ll find the wildest, loneliest, most desolate spot there is.

This post was tagged with: art utah everett ruess nemo southern desert