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Contact: Abigail Jones, (208) 309-4511
ARCO, Idaho - Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve has selected five Artists-in-Residence (AiR) to help celebrate the park’s Centennial this year. All currently live in Idaho and have deep connections to Craters of the Moon and the region. During their residency, the AiRs are visiting the park’s lava landscape to inform and inspire their work and hosting special events for the public to learn about their craft.
“Hosting Artists-in-Residence and providing opportunities for the public to engage with them are a very important part of our Centennial celebrations as landscape art and photography have played a vital role in generating public support to establish Craters of the Moon and other parks and protect these special places for future generations,” said Wade Vagias, Superintendent of Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve.
Beginning in the early 1800s, paintings and photographs captured the grandeur and beauty of Western landscapes and captivated audiences at a time when travel was limited, helping to generate support to preserve natural wonders. The photographs of Harold and Norah Stearns, Israel C. Russell, and Robert Limbert helped prompt President Calvin Coolidge to issue a proclamation establishing Craters of the Moon National Monument on May 2, 1924 to protect its “weird and scenic landscape.” Since the AiR program’s inception in 2010, Craters of the Moon has hosted over a dozen different artists, photographers, writers, and musicians from across the nation.
The Craters of the Moon Centennial AiRs are:
- Mary Arnold, Boise – painter
“I am inspired by my love of Idaho and the animals that call it home,” said Arnold. “I hope that my art broadens a message of shared use and advocacy for protecting and sustaining our open spaces and wildlife.”
- April Felker, Twin Falls - painter, photographer, printmaker, and sculptor
“Patterns and processes I encounter in natural systems stimulate and instruct me,” said Felker. “So long as I have access to wild spaces and things, I have an endless inspirational source for making art.”
- Karen Jacobsen, Sun Valley - plein air painter, muralist, and illustrator
“I combine my love of art and science to create a truly unique career as an expedition illustrator,” stated Jacobsen. “I get to travel, paint and illustrate some of the wildest and most unreachable places on earth and beneath the sea.”
- Evan Nelson, Idaho Falls - wildlife and landscape photographer
“The unsettling beauty of this volcanic landscape has captivated my imagination for several years,” explained Nelson. “The alluringly violent past, the undeniable contrast of wildflowers against dark cinders, and the unimaginable night skies seem to beckon to my very soul.”
- Josh Olson, Boise - watercolorist and printmaker
“My love affair with nature began when I was 18 years old. I was introduced to plein air painting on a sage brush hill with distant aspen groves in full display of fall colors,” recounted Olson. “This simple morning began what has become nearly a lifetime of outdoor painting adventures.”
Complete biographies and photos of the AiRs are available on the Craters of the Moon website at Centennial Artists-in-Residence - Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
From May through September, Craters of the Moon AiRs will host in-person and online special events that highlight multiple perspectives and values of the park’s 100-year history or “Phases of the Moon” and offer opportunities for the public to learn about their craft as follows:
May: On Saturday, May 25, Felker will hold plein air painting demonstrations at the Robert Limbert visitor center from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the Devils Orchard Trail area from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
June: On Saturday, June 15, Olson will demonstrate nature journaling.
On Saturday, June 29, all five AiRs will hold a group art event to demonstrate their mediums.
July/August: Arnold and Jacobsen will demonstrate nature journaling and the practice of bringing art techniques to the field through a series of online videos posted on social media and the park website.
September: In conjunction with star parties and a full moon hike, Evan Nelson will demonstrate how to take night sky photographs on Friday, September 6 at 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, September 7 at 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, September 15 at 8:15 p.m.
Additional information about the Craters of the Moon Centennial AiRs and their events, as well as other Craters of the Moon Centennial events, are available on the park website at Centennial Celebration - Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Last updated: May 16, 2024