2015 Youth Arts in the Parks Art Contest Deadline Near

Flame azalea by Chloe Perdue, 7th Grade, Ansted Middle School, Fayette County, 2014 Youth Arts in the Parks participant.

News Release Date: January 22, 2015

Glen Jean, West Virginia,January 22, 2015—Nature inspires artists of all ages! Students can demonstrate their creativity through theYouth Arts in the Parksart contest, part of New River Gorge Wildflower Weekend (April 24 –26). The art work of contest finalists will be showcased at Tamarack in Beckley and on-line in April, helping all in our community see the amazing natural diversity of the central Appalachian Mountains. The art entry deadline forYouth Arts in the Parksis almost here. Students must submit their entries to a receiving station by February 7.

This nature art contest is open to all K –12 grade students in Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers Counties. Students may use a variety of mediums to create a work of art inspired by a spring Appalachian wildflower native to the New River Gorge area of West Virginia. Complete contest information, rules, list of accepted wildflower species, and entry form are available on-line at www.nps.gov/neri/youth-arts-in-the-parks.htm or www.tamarackwv.com/gallery/youthartsintheparks.aspx. Contest art entries must be hand delivered with a completed entry form to a contest art receiving station betweenFebruary 1and7, 2015. Here is list of this year's Youth Arts in the Parks contest art receiving stations:

• Divide Elementary School, Attn: Christy Gill, Propps Ridge Rd., Lookout
• Liberty High School, Attn: Tonja Raines, 1700 Coal River Rd., Glen Daniels
• Woodrow Wilson High School, Attn: Sandi Shaw, 400 Stanaford Rd., Beckley
• Nicholas County High School, Attn: Pam Cox, 30 Grizzly Rd., Summersville

• National Park Service –Canyon Rim Visitor Center, Attn: Jodi French-Burr, Fayette Mine Rd., Lansing (open daily9:00-5:00)
• National Park Service –Sandstone Visitor Center, Attn: Dave Bieri, Meadow Creek Rd., Sandstone (open daily9:00-5:00)

Join this celebration of nature in Appalachia through art withYouth Arts in the Parks!