Art in the Park 2018

NPS

News Release Date: January 24, 2018

Art in the Park/Earth Day Event
Saturday, April 21, 2018
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Art in the Park/Earth Day Event

You are invited to  “Art in the Park/Earth Day” at George Washington Carver National Monument, on Saturday, April 21, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Presented in conjunction with National Park Week, Art in the Park/Earth Day is a free event showcasing the artwork of George Washington Carver.

George Washington Carver was inspired by the natural environment and gained a sense of serenity and personal rejuvenation from his artistic work. Plein air artists will set up along the trail, capturing the beauty of the woodlands, prairie, and streams. Artists will conduct art workshops throughout the day and visitors are encouraged to participate. A “budding artists” area will feature natural dyes, painting color swatches, and other children’s art activities. Kids will earn a special Junior Ranger badge!

At 11:00 a.m., enjoy a special presentation by Matt Turner, Visual Information Specialist with the office of Interpretation and Education at the NPS Midwest Regional Office in Omaha. As a talented artist, Turner supports parks with their websites and social media, as well with graphic design needs and projects. His work with graphics and digital media look to entertain and inform people about national parks, particularly the diverse collection in the 13 states that make up the Midwest Region. Turner’s created the 75^th Anniversary logo for George Washington Carver National Monument.

Join a park ranger  for “Expressions of the Soul,” a program interpreting Carver’s artistic creations including images of his renowned Yucca and Cactus. Several pieces of his original artwork will be on display inside the  visitor center.

Earth Day will be celebrated with a special film presentation about Earth Day,  Visitors are invited to learn more about the role of tallgrass prairie and plant native seed to begin their own prairie plot at home.

This “Find Your Park” event invites the public to see that a national park can be more than a place -- it can be a feeling, a state of mind, or a sense of American pride. Beyond vast landscapes, the campaign highlights historical, urban, and cultural parks, as well as the National Park Service programs that protect, preserve and share nature, culture, and history in communities nationwide.