Explore This Park

Artist-in-Residence

Artist Daniel Bernard Gray creates sun prints at Painted Desert Inn, Aug 2014

NPS

Artists impacted the formation, expansion, and direction of our national parks. They gave glimpses of the American landscape to people that may never visit those lands, creating connections through photography and painting. Still today, artists using a wide variety of media draw inspiration from park lands. Petrified Forest National Park's Artist-in-Residence Program continues the tradition of arts in the parks. Founded in 2006 as part of the park's Centennial Celebration, the program brings artists to the park in order to share their inspirations, ideas, and artwork with the public.

 

Musician Brack Morrow (APR 2014) explains his Mobile Music Instrument

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The Artist-In-Residence Program offers artists the opportunity to pursue their discipline while immersed in the park landscape. Selected artists stay in park housing for a selected period of time each month of the year. No stipend is provided. Artists must be prepared to work in high desert, summer weather conditions that include high winds, low relative humidity, and temperatures reaching 100 F (38 C) during the day and lows reaching 35 F (2 C) at night.

 

Painted Desert Inn Casita

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Housing

Housing is isolated and located two miles into the park from the north entrance of the park. Cell phone/Wi-Fi service is limited due to the isolated location of the park (23 miles to nearest services) and location of housing within the park. Artists-in-Residence are required to have their own mode of transportation to, from, and within the park. Public transportation is not available.

 

Holbrook Historic Depot Art Show

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Artwork

Upon completion of the residency, participating artists will donate to the park one original piece of artwork from, and representative of, their residency in Petrified Forest National Park. Artwork from visual artists should be framed with glass or prepared for hanging before donation. The donated artwork becomes property of the National Park Service, the park's Friends Group, or the Petrified Forest Museum Association. Artwork may be accessioned into the park's permanent museum collection, used in exhibits, used for educational purposes, and/or auctioned by partner entities. The artist retains a royalty-free, nonexclusive use license under the copyright of the art.

 

Artist-in-Residence talk at the Painted Desert Inn NHL

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Artists should expect to present two public programs during their residency. This interaction can be tailored to an individual's medium, interest, and experience for park visitors. Programs can be demonstrations, talks, exploratory walks, or performances. In addition to the park, the nearby community college art department can be used as a public program venue. Artists are responsible for providing their own supplies and equipment for this residency and all public presentations. Artists are also asked to give a presentation in their community upon their return home.

 

Artist Brad Bachmeier gives a pottery demonstration at the Historic Navajo County Courthouse in Holbrook, Arizona, July 2014

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How to Apply

We are now accepting applications for the 2019 Artist-in-Residence Program. Please fill out the application located here and email it to [e-mail].
If you have have any questions about Petrified Forest National Park’s Artist-in-Residence program, please contact Chief of Interpretation Richard Ullmann at [phone] x245 or e-mail us.
Thank you!

 

Meet the Artists

Be sure to check our Calendar for upcoming art demonstrations and presentations.

2016 Artists-in-Residence

2015 Artists-in-Residence

2014 Artists-in-Residence

Past Artists-in-Residence