Artist in Residence receives Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant to support Everglades Project

Date: December 22, 2009
Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714

Everglades National Park is pleased to announce that Sarasota artist, Kathy Wright, has been awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant in the amount of $25,000 in support of her Everglades Project, a series of paintings based on her experience as Artist in Residence (AIRIE) in the Everglades National Park during December 2008 and November 2009. Ms. Wright has a Master's Degree in Architecture from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design ('98) as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology ('94). She has been a full time painter since 2002.

The Everglades National Park Artist in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) program offers artists the opportunity to live and work in this unique environment.  "This grant is great news for Ms. Wright and highlights the park's AIRIE program that will continue to provide opportunities for artists to be inspired by the parks wonderful natural and cultural resources," said Superintendent Dan Kimball. The works completed under AIRIE contribute to the public understanding and appreciation of Everglades National Park.  The park believes that these works will characterize the Everglades for present and future generations, giving park visitors and the general public an opportunity to see our heritage through the eyes, and ears of the contributing artists.

The artists in residence program at Everglades National Park is funded entirely by contributions to the National Park Service from individuals and private foundations.  You can learn more about this program on the park website at https://www.nps.gov/ever/supportyourpark/artistinresidence.htm.

The Pollock-Krasner Foundation was established in 1985 to assist individual working artists of merit with financial need through the generosity of Lee Krasner, a leading abstract expressionist painter and the widow of Jackson Pollock. Grants are awarded to professional visual artists internationally in support of personal and/or professional expenses for one year. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over 50 million dollars to artists in 72 countries. Kathy's receipt of this competitive grant acknowledges her growing reputation as an artist of merit and marks a new stage of productivity in her work.