Hot Springs NP welcomes AIR Miriam Sagan

Date: March 5, 2017
Contact: Brian Schwieger, 501-620-6703

Artists have been part of national parks since the late 19th century when famed Hudson River School painters captured the majestic views of our nation's western parks. Today, the sights and sounds in national parks continue to inspire artists in 50 residency programs across the National Park Service and at Hot Springs National Park.

“We are very pleased to announce that 18 artists from across the United States have been selected to participate in Hot Springs National Park’s 2017 Artist-In-Residence program,” said Superintendent Josie Fernandez. The season’s first Artist-in-Residence, writer Miriam Sagan, will serve with the national park from March 5 through March 18.
           
A resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Miriam is a recent retiree from Santa Fe Community College where she founded and ran the school’s creative writing program. As part of the creative duo Maternal Mitochondria, Ms. Sagan and her daughter Isabel, a multi-media artist, have developed poetry geocaches in New Mexico. A writer in three different genres (poetry, fiction and memoir), Ms. Sagan has previously served as an Artist-in-Residence in Everglades National Park and Petrified Forest National Park.

During her residency, Miriam plans to work on a radio play that will give voice to both nature and community. She will present two public programs, both free and open to the public. On Saturday, March 11, Miriam invites children and families to make weathergrams and some on the park’s trail system; Sunday’s (March 12) program features a poetry reading of her original works and a Q & A about her writings and creative process. Both programs will begin at 2:00 p.m. and be held at the Ozark Bathhouse (425 Central Avenue). Upon completion of her residency, Sagan will donate an original contribution to Hot Springs National Park’s permanent collection. 

For more information, contact Brian Schwieger at 501.620.6703 or e-mail us