The Symbols Behind SLVEC's Logo
- Zaylah Pearson-Good
- Dec 28, 2021
- 2 min read
The new logo for the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council (SLVEC) honors the unique ecology of Southern Colorado and immediately connects viewers to the Valley.
Capturing the wild beauty of the San Luis Valley (SLV) is no easy task, but that was SLVEC's top priority in creating our new logo.
A vast range of rich hues run across the sky from sunrise to sunset. The texture, vibrancy, and mood of the expansive Valley floor changes hastily with four distinct seasons. Full-figured vegetation fills the landscape with color one moment, and leaves it empty and brittle the next. Water and snow come and go, as do many iconic resident and migratory species that utilize this arid, yet fertile oasis.
Rowan Lyford, a painter, environmentalist, and SLV youth, designed SLVEC's newest logo to convey the spectacular, dynamic natural beauty of the Valley.
A Valley Logo
The SLVEC team, alongside Rowan, selected several iconic symbols that illustrate the unique ecology of the San Luis Valley for the logo.
BUMBLEBEE
Busy at work, the native bumblebee represents the air element and the importance of our insect and pollinator communities.
NATIVE PLANT
The blooming Rocky Mountain bee plant honors the many native plant species that have sustained local human and non-human species for thousands of years.
SAND DUNES
Smooth waves of golden sand situate viewers to the unmistakable Great Sand Dunes, a national treasure located in the SLV. Their depiction also signifies the vital role that SLVEC played in helping to designate the area as a National Park and Preserve.
MOUNTAIN RANGE
Contrasted behind the dunes is the majestic Sangre de Cristo range, representing the element of earth and the striking views of mountains in nearly all directions of the Valley.
SUNRISE
A sunrise peaks from behind the Sangres, depicting the magical display of color and light that daily enchants the SLV sky. This detail illustrates the elements of fire and space.
SANDHILL CRANE
The flight of the beloved Sandhill Crane speaks to the Valley's fertility and its role in sustaining both migratory and resident wildlife.
MEDANO CREEK
Medano Creek flows in the foreground to represent the element of water, our Valley’s lifeblood.
All of the chosen symbols for the logo communicate the delicate ecological balance at play in the Valley, one that SLVEC works hard to protect, encourage, and preserve.
We are proud to be represented by a logo that is thoughtfully crafted and truly speaks to the spectacular landscape, which deserves to be treasured and preserved for future generations.