Artist-in-Residence Programs Continue At Rocky Mountain National Park With Visual Artist Kristin Gjerdset

Painting by Kristin Gjerdset

Copyright Kristin Gjerdset

News Release Date: August 11, 2015

Contact: Kyle Patterson, [phone]

Visual Artist Kristin Gjerdset from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will continue to highlight this year's Art in the Park Program at Rocky Mountain National Park with presentations held Wednesdays, August 12 and August 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.

Kristin has been an Artist-in-Residence at Great Basin, Mesa Verde, Everglades, and Glacier National Parks as well as Potawatomi, Interstate and Whitefish Dunes State Parks in Wisconsin. Besides having her artwork featured in exhibits throughout the country, she's been commissioned to produce art and murals for zoos and state parks.  Ms. Gjerdset is active in instructing art workshops for kids and participates in a variety of citizen science activities at nature centers and national and state parks.  For her residency she will create acrylic paintings illustrating the density and beauty of tiny species in different ecological habitats.  She also hopes to draw upon the writings of Enos Mills and Isabella Bird to pair appropriate species in her acrylic images. 

Six artists were selected for the summer 2015 Artist-in-Residence Program at Rocky Mountain National Park. Artists are provided with a creative, contemplative environment in which to generate artistic works and share their works with the public.  During their stay at the park, artists share their vision in two public presentations. 

Artistic diversity, new ideas and creative uses of media were encouraged in the application process. Artists are given two-week residencies at the William Allen White cabin from June through September. For a specific schedule and to learn more about these artists go to: www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/supportyourpark/meet-our-2015-artists-in-residences.htm 

Artists have had a long-standing impact on the formation, expansion and direction of our country's national parks.  Musicians, composers, painters, writers, sculptors and other performing artists also draw upon the multifaceted quality of parks for inspiration.  All of these artists translate the national park's purpose, as a place of pleasure and preservation, into images which bring others enjoyment and a deeper understanding of the parks some may never visit.  Rocky Mountain National Park's Artist-In-Residence program provides artists the opportunity to become a part of a long established tradition of artists in our national parks. 

For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please contact the park's Information Office at [phone].