The historic fire lookout offers a variety of panoramic views
By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news
Sarah F. Burns of Talent, the Siskiyou Crest Coalition’s (SCC’s) first Acorn Woman Lookout Artist in Residence, will begin her five-day residency in the former U.S. National Forest Service fire lookout on Tuesday, May 27.
Burns, a longtime southern Oregon resident, said she is thrilled for the opportunity.
“The Siskiyous are a magical, challenging region that have so much mystery, and I haven’t spent enough time painting there. This rustic lookout is going to be so inspirational for my art!” Burns said.
Built by the U.S. Forest Service in 1942, the historic 14-foot by 14-foot lookout was used for decades to identify wildfire ignitions across a broad swath of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. It was renovated in 2016 and added to the Forest Service’s lookout rental program. The lookout features glass windows on all sides, providing visitors with views of the steep drop-off and Siskiyou Mountains.
Located at an elevation of 4,984-feet on the summit of Acorn Woman Peak in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, the lookout offers commanding views of rugged, snow-capped peaks of the Siskiyou Crest, canyons of the Applegate River watershed, the Southern Cascades, and the Rogue River Valley.
Burns, who specializes in oil paintings, notes the Siskiyous have become a focus of her current art work as she has learned more about the area’s native plants and geology.
“I’ve been making it a point to focus my painting on the Siskiyous,” she said, explaining she mostly is known for oil paintings “Because I was born here.”
The residency program was the brainstorm of SCC volunteers Luke Ruediger and Suzie Savoie.
After a stay at the lookout, “We thought, ‘Wouldn’t this charming lookout, with its incredible views, wildflowers, and sunsets, make a great location for an artist residency?’” Ruediger said.
The idea was enthusiastically embraced by Diana Coogle, a well-known Rogue Valley writer. According to Coogle, “Besides being great for the artist, this program will build appreciation for the world-class scenery, recreational opportunities, and biological values of the Siskiyou Crest region and help further SCC’s goal to find permanent protections for its public lands.”
Burns said Ruediger and Savoie have influenced her artwork through their knowledge of the region and through Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds, which offers a wide selection of seeds from the Klamath-Siskiyou region. In addition, Burns said she has gained knowledge on guided hikes.
“I just learned so much,” she said.
Following Burns’ residency, the Siskiyou Crest Coalition will sponsor a public presentation highlighting the artist and the work of art produced in the Acorn Woman Lookout.
“We’re hoping to make it an annual Artist in Residence program and we’re definitely off to a good start,” Coogle said of Burns. She also notes the lookout provides an “absolutely incredible view.”
The lookout is above Upper and Lower Acorn lakes and is usually booked well in advance through the Rogue River-Siskiyou website’s rental program.
“The lookout is very popular for people to spend a few days,” Coogle said, adding, “The Forest Service is very supportive of this project.”
As part of agreement, the selected artist will prepare a program on their stay and display the work – such as a painting, photography, a musical score, or writings – at a public presentation. Burns’ program, which will feature an exhibit of her painting, is set for June 28 at the Rogue Gallery, 40 S. Bartlett St., Medford. Another presentation is being arranged at ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum in Ashland at a date to be determined.
Artists interested in applying for the 2026 residency should contact Coogle at [email protected]. Under the program’s agreement, SCC rents the popular lookout for the artist, who will produce a piece of art of any medium inspired by their stay.
Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at [email protected].
