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Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714
Photographs of 58 of America’s National Parks will be on display from Friday, November 30, 2007 through Saturday, February 2, 2008 in a unique, 2 venue show at Biscayne and Everglades National Parks. The 58 panoramic images by Stan Jorstad comprise America’s Best Idea, a national touring exhibition sponsored by Nature Valley Granola Bars and the American Park Network. Half of the photos will be shown at Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center, and the remainder will be at Everglades National Park’s Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. Opening receptions will be held at each park. On Saturday, December 1, Everglades National Park will kick off their 60th Anniversary celebration with a film festival in the Coe Visitor Center auditorium beginning at 10AM followed by a reception from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. At 12:30 on Sunday, December 2, Biscayne National Park will show the 28-minute film An American Legacy that details the history of the National Park Service. Immediately following the film, the opening reception for America’s Best idea will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and will include refreshments and live music performed by a string quartet from the University of Miami . Both receptions are free and open to the public. For over 70 years, Stan Jorstad has been documenting the natural world through the lens of a camera. In addition to a 30-year career as Director of Photography for the Container Corporation of America, Jorstad also worked as a cinematographer for Mutual of Omaha’s acclaimed Wild Kingdom television series. He hopes that all who view this exhibit or read the companion coffee table book will come away with a renewed appreciation for our irreplaceable national and cultural treasures and a desire to take an active stewardship role in caring for America’s best idea — our national parks. The large size of the exhibit meant that neither park could host the entire show, providing an opportunity to emphasize not only the connectedness of Biscayne and Everglades National Parks to one another but also their connectedness to the entire National Park System. Miami-Dade County is one of very few counties in the nation that is home to two National Parks. "There is a synergy that becomes obvious when one views photos of so many national park areas in one room," said Michelle Oehmichen, Biscayne National Park’s Partnerships and Community Affairs Liaison. "No longer are they simply photos of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Biscayne, they are parts of a much bigger legacy. The shows are part of a continuing series of art exhibits at the parks, and are made possible locally by the South Florida National Parks Trust. Additional support for the shows comes from Miami-Dade County’s Cultural Affairs Division, The First National Bank of South Florida and Sedano’s Supermarkets. The Everglades Association will be selling copies of America’s Best Idea, a companion coffee table book, at both parks throughout the duration of the exhibition, and proceeds will help benefit the educational, scientific, historical and research efforts of the National Park Service in South Florida. For further information on the exhibit, call 305-230-7275, or visit the parks’ websites at www.nps.gov/bisc (Biscayne) or www.nps.gov/ever (Everglades). -NPS- EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. |
Last updated: April 14, 2015