Art can say a lot – without a word. A new art exhibit at Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art tells the story of one of the west’s most powerful characters, the Colorado River, and how the world and people around the river affect it. One of the artists featured in this exhibit, Noelle Phares, knows it is a big subject, but she said she thrives on a good challenge. “There are just infinite angles from which to approach this work,” Phares said as she worked on a painting of Lake Powell. “I want to be learning whenever I’m working, which means pushing myself to do something different.” The show is called “Tracking Time,” and Phares is painting multiple pieces that show different locations along the Colorado River. Some of the locations are well known, like Lake Powell, and some people might not have heard about. All contribute to the story of the river that flows through seven states to 40 million people. “The Colorado River, it’s the river in the area,” Phares said. “You can’t live in the west without being touched by it.”