Ten talented artists have been selected for the 2016 summer Alaska State Parks artist-in-residence program, which runs from May through September at the Ernest Gruening State Historical Park. This year’s artists are Joan Pardes, Patti Jouppi, Bruce Sink, Christine Fortner, Glenda Field, Rob Roys, Naona Wallin, Bob Winfree, Sandy Winfree, and Keren Lowell.
Participating artists stay for up to two weeks at the scenic and historic Ernest Gruening Cabin, near Amalga Harbor approximately 24 miles north of Juneau. Artists are asked to donate an original work of art inspired by their time at the cabin and to host a workshop or other community engagement. The first artist to participate in the 2016 program is Joan Pardes, an artist and writer from the Juneau area who began her residence on May 1.
Now in its second year, the purpose of the artist-in-residence program is to encourage artists to create work inspired by Alaska’s state parks. It also offers visitors and the general public an opportunity to see state parks through the eyes of contributing artists.
“The experience of the Artist in Residence Program was a highlight of our summer,” said Jim Leach, an artist during the 2015 program. “The historic aspects of the cabin and surrounding area were wonderful. The surrounding scenery and the chance to meet (by chance) many locals from the surrounding area was interesting, enjoyable and enlightening. Everyone we met was inquisitive about the program and seemed happy we were there.”
More information about workshops and other events hosted by the participating artists will be announced over the course of the summer. For more visit www.alaskastateparks.org or by following us on Facebook @AlaskaStateParks, on Instagram @akstateparks, and on Twitter @AlaskaStParks.
