News Release

Youth Arts in the Parks 2018 Appalachian Spring Wildflower Art Exhibit Opens at Tamarack and Online

Date: April 9, 2018
Contact: Jodi French-Burr, 304-465-2632

2018 Best in Show artist Anna Ide created this flame azalea with copper, wire, and wood. Anna is a 9th grader at Midland Trail High School in Fayette County.

NPS

Glen Jean, WV — A new exhibit opens Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Tamarack in West Virginia featuring the artwork of local students who participated in the Youth Arts in the Parks 2018 Appalachian Spring Wildflower Art contest. Local students used art to learn about regional ecology and to celebrate the arrival of spring in the Appalachians in this annual contest open to all students in grades K – 12 from Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers counties. Students learned about regional wildflowers and Appalachian ecology while they created art using watercolor paint, glass, oil pastels, pencils, paper, and more.
 
The creativity and talents of local students yielded amazing works of art, with 470 participants this year. The top 72 juried pieces are now showcased at Tamarack in Beckley, through May 8, 2018. The works of the 67 featured youth artists are on exhibit in the lobby of the Hulett C. Smith Theater, while the five Best in Show pieces will be displayed alongside adult artwork in the Music in the Mountains spring gallery show that runs April 7- June 10 in Tamarack’s David L. Dickirson Fine Art Gallery. Tamarack is open daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. See this exhibit online starting April 10 at www.nps.gov/neri/youth-arts-in-the-parks.htm.
 
This youth art display is part of 2018 New River Gorge Wildflower Weekend (April 27 – April 29), where anyone can become a citizen scientist at New River Gorge. Anyone can discover the ever changing face of the season from the rim of the gorge to the river with rangers and naturalists at free guided hikes in parks during this event. Enjoy the spirit of spring at a variety of art demonstrations and exhibits. Contribute your nature observations as well, helping document the diversity of Appalachia. Join in on the fun at New River Gorge National River, Tamarack, and the West Virginia State Parks of Babcock, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield, Hawks Nest, Pipestem Resort and Twin Falls Resort for this celebration of spring. The complete event program schedule is available at www.nps.gov/neri or by liking NewRiverGorgeNPS on Facebook.