News Release

Mesa Verde National Park Artist in Residence Program Welcomes Durango Photographer Kit Frost

Date: October 4, 2017
Contact: Mesa Verde Museum Association, 970-529-4445
Contact: Cristy Brown, 970-529-4608

Photographer Kit Frost of Durango, Colorado is October’s Artist in Residence at Mesa Verde National Park. She will offer a free public program, “Artists in Our National Parks” on Friday, October 13  from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Far View Lodge Library in the park. Ms. Frost will share a presentation on the history of art in our national parks, showing examples of artists whose work inspired their formation. The slideshow will include samples of new artwork created during her tenure as Artist in Residence at Crater Lake, Acadia, Glacier, Capitol Reef, and Mesa Verde National Parks.

Photography is Kit’s passion. Her preferred style of shooting is to be at a location for a long period of time. She says, “time in and around one location expands my photographic imagery and reflects familiarity, change, constancy, an examination of light and time and commitment to be at the ‘right place’ at the ‘right time’. The gift of time presented during an AIR residency is the perfect opportunity for me to pursue my passion for photography and image making.” Through the task of visually translating Mesa Verde, she hopes to gain and share a deeper understanding of the park and its former residents. “I plan to capture the texture and light, inspired by ancient architecture and natural landscape of the park, and to meet the challenge of recording the same expansive views experienced by the Ancestral Puebloan Culture 800 plus years ago.”

Mesa Verde National Park’s Artist in Residence (AIR) program provides professional artists the opportunity to become part of a long established tradition of artists creating art in our national parks. The AIR program offers professional writers, composers, and visual and performing artists the opportunity to pursue their particular art form while being surrounded by the inspiring ancient architecture of the Ancestral Pueblo people and the sweeping natural landscape of the park. This year’s artists were selected from over 45 applicants by a jury of five consisting of the Chief of Interpretation, MVMA staff, and three local professional artists. Applications for the 2018 Artist in Residence program at Mesa Verde National Park will be accepted beginning November 1 through December 31, 2017. To apply and to learn more go to www.nps.gov/meve/getinvolved/air_artists.htm and www.mesaverde.org.
 
The AIR program is managed by the nonprofit Mesa Verde Museum Association (MVMA), the park’s innovative educational partner that inspires life-long stewardship of the Mesa Verde region’s cultural and natural heritage. Through MVMA’s operation of park bookstores, free or low-cost seminars, workshops, and special programs, visitors of all ages gain understanding of Mesa Verde. Proceeds from all association programs support Mesa Verde National Park. Learn more at www.mesaverde.org or by calling 970-529-4445.

-NPS-