Their first love has always been baskets, Steve says. And as the world came to appreciate the beauty of the Navajo baskets, he has seen the prices double and double again.

The Simpson brothers grew up in nearby Monticello. Other gallery owners came from farther away.

Lancaster, who owns the Cloudwatcher Studio, started as a photographer, shooting black and white in graveyards of New Orleans. He came to the desert to hike and loved it here and stayed on. He calls his work "nontypical Southwestern."

His paintings might include sand or ash from a juniper fire. His assemblages might include one of his photos and some blue and white china found in the Bluff dump or perhaps a bird feather "from a nonendangered species." Lancaster has an entire series featuring flour sacks.

If you look at the Navajo baskets that line the wall of the Twin Rocks Trading Post, you'll see that a variety of modern subjects have made their way into the designs. The Simpson brothers encourage artists to experiment.

Lancaster says that is one of the things he likes about living in Bluff. "An artist should not let any rules dictate," he says. And this is a free sort of place.

He's happy he moved here to paint and take photos — and make music. He explains, "Out here in the fringelands, you better have more than one way to make a living."

If you go ...

• What: Bluff Arts Festival
• Where: various locations around town
• When: Friday through Sunday
• How much: free (preregistration is necessary for a writing workshop with Mary Sojourner on Saturday, or to read your poems that evening)
• Phone: 435-672-2296
• Web: www.bluffutah.org/artsfest.htm
• Also: Nature writer Terry Tempest Williams leads discussions Friday, 2-4 p.m. and 6:30-9 p.m. at St. Christopher's Mission, and will speak and sign books Saturday, 8-9:30 a.m., at Comb Ridge Coffee Shop

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E-mail: susan@desnews.com