East County News Service

April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) -- The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday, April 15 hosting the first-ever Mountain Empire Art Show 2026, opening at 4 p.m. and the Boulevard-Jacumba Town Hall Event at 6:30 p.m.

The first annual Mountain Empire Art Show  is an act of advocacy for the vibrant and sometimes hidden gem of the art community of the high desert east county region. Sixteen artists will show at the Backcountry Resource Center, gathered by the curation of Mara Harris who enthusiastically organized the show as an act of community activism.

Harris is also a resident on Jewel Valley Road the primary location for the Starlight Solar Project slated for Boulevard. 

The art show theme is "Artists Activate Aliveness!" It is a direct response to the east desert communities' concern of the impact of the growing number of industrial solar, battery, and wind turbine projects in the Mountain Empire region.