Art in the Park Yoho

Art in the Park 2011

Yoho National Park

“Art in the Park is about creating that sense of place and sharing an emotional response to that place through art.”
Jackie Pendergast, Revelstoke Visual Arts Society and Art in the Park artist

Since 2008, the Art in the Park program based out of Revelstoke B.C. provides visual artists with special access to explore one of Canada’s national parks and then to share the experience through art. Artwork is created to inspire an emotional connection and deeper understanding of Canada’s national parks.

This year, the Art in the Park program celebrated Glacier and Yoho national parks 125^th anniversaries. “We had an excellent response to the call for entry which made it difficult to select artists this year,” said coordinator Jackie Pendergast of the Revelstoke Visual Arts Society, “There were 57 high-calibre applicants from across the province and it was very challenging to select only a few”.

Artists were chosen through a rigorous selection process designed to encourage a balance of artistic mediums and experience. Participants worked closely together over a period of days sharing vision and techniques before creating a number of unique pieces of art. The finished artwork is then shared with the public at various venues in the province and samples of the work displayed on-line.

Successful artists this year spent several days in a remote setting in Glacier National Park in late July and an additional group of artists from previous Art in the Park Programs visited neighbouring Yoho National Park for several days in late August.

The artists spent time out-of-doors, taking in the incredible landscapes of these national parks. From the sub-alpine meadows on Mount Fidelity in Glacier National Park to Yoho’s thunderous Takkaka Falls, they took time to understand the landscape, drafting sketches, taking notes and photos and sharing art techniques. When their time was over, they returned to their studios to complete their work. Here, artistic visions become reality and the final art will be exhibited at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre November 12to December 3, 2011 with an opening gala on the 12th.

Parks Canada's goal is to build a broader awareness among Canadians of Canada’s national parks. By creating artwork from their experiences in the park, artists reveal meanings and relationships that complement the scientific and educational perspectives presented by park staff. Through artists' participation, Parks Canada hopes to expand the way the park is seen by local residents, staff, visitors and audiences beyond park boundaries.

While the program has regularly been based out of Glacier National Park, over the past few years former Art in the Park participants explored other national parks including Pacific Rim and Yoho national parks with Mount Revelstoke and Waterton Lakes national parks being considered for future. Each national park offers new experiences and opportunities for creative artistic expression.

The Art in the Park program is a partnership between Parks Canada and the Revelstoke Visual Arts Society, the Friends of Mount Revelstoke and Glacier and the Friends of Yoho

Yoho Artists 2011

Tina Lindegaard
Revelstoke, B.C.
Medium: Acrylic
In joining this group project for the 125^th anniversary of Yoho National Park, I had an opportunity to immerse myself completely in my surroundings for four days . From the deafening rush of the falls to the splendor and presence of the ominous peaks with their unbelievable emerald lakes and magnificent glaciers, I was immediately inspired to absorb, interpret and create. I enjoyed once again being able to share and observe the process of six other artists on a similar journey. My intention with this work is that the viewer may be able to imagine and perhaps even come close to experiencing this amazing natural environment through the resulting works of art. Enjoy!