Artists have had a long influence on the formation, expansion, and direction of America’s national parks.
By painting landscapes of the American West, artists publicized natural wonders little known to the Eastern populace. Their work helped stimulate the establishment of parks and to foster an appreciation of them.
Today, artists continue to document the landscapes of our national parks with contemporary techniques.
Each summer, the Isle Royale Artist Program provides three to four artists with a two—to three-week immersion in the wilderness environment of Isle Royale. This immersion allows the artist to connect to the many moods that only a North Woods wilderness can provide. Selected artists must donate a piece of artwork representative of their stay on Isle Royale to the park within one year of their experience.
Isle Royale is ideally suited for an Artist-in-Residence Program. Surrounded by Lake Superior and just five fives from the Minnesota-Canadian border, Isle Royale National Park encompasses 850 square miles of natural Wilderness, spacious lands, and aquatic life.
Wave-washed shores, boreal forests, miles of ridge and valley topography, island-evolved wildlife, and various arctic disjunct plants inspire the imagination.
While on the island for the 2 – 3 week residency, the park will house the artists in a rustic cabin along a picturesque shoreline. Ranger III, a 165-foot ship from Houghton, Michigan, provides complimentary transportation to and from the island.
Applications for Isle Royale National Park’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence Program will be accepted January 2 through February 16, 2025. Each 2 – 3 week residency provides artists the opportunity to become part of a long-established tradition of interpreting national parks through art.
A panel of artistic professionals and a park representative will select the finalists based on their artistic integrity, ability to reside in a wilderness environment, willingness to donate a finished piece of artwork inspired by the island, and the artists’ ability to relate to and interpret the park through their medium.
The program is open to all art forms except those that would manipulate or disturb the park’s environment.
Visit the park’s Artist-in-Residence website for the online application process. To be considered, all application components must be digitally received by 11:59 pm ET on February 16, 2025. Entries received after February 16 will not be considered. Notification to all applicants will be made by May 1, 2025. For more information, visit the park’s website, call (906) 482-0984, or email isro_parkinfo@nps.gov.
Image Credit: Tobin Harbor Fog, Bonnie Loukus, 2022 Artist-in-Residence, Oil, 20″ W x 16″ H
