By Christine Gianas Weinheimer EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Most of us have
had opportunities to view and admire art, but how often do we get to see a work
of art in the making? Visitors to Yellowstone National Park will soon have that
chance during the second annual Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational, taking
place Sept. 24 to 29. Hosted by Yellowstone Forever, the park’s official
nonprofit partner, the event celebrates the current and historical presence of
art in Yellowstone, as some of the nation’s best artists paint “en plein air” throughout
the park.
Artists were
among the first to bring proof to the American public of the natural wonders
and wildlife found within Yellowstone. These early paintings and drawings are
believed to have helped convince Congress in 1872 that this landscape was
exceptionally valuable and should be preserved for all time.
“Art still
plays a significant role in the park,” said Yellowstone Forever President and
CEO John Walda. “In addition to helping us see Yellowstone in new and creative
ways, the work of artists inspires others to visit, cherish and protect this
magnificent place.”
Most of the
Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational activities are free and open to the public
with park admission. Visitors can attend daily painting demonstrations at
scenic landmarks around the park, as well as a family-friendly plein air
painting activity on Saturday. The event will culminate with a weekend art
exhibition during which accomplished painter and distinguished museum director
Ian McKibbin White will give a keynote address and judge the art entries.
“Last year’s
inaugural event was spectacular,” Walda said. “We are thrilled that this year’s
Yellowstone Plein Air Invitational has grown to feature 16 extraordinarily
talented artists from around the country, and that Ian McKibbin White has
agreed to play such a significant role.”
On Saturday
evening, a banquet, exhibition and art auction will be held at Old Faithful
Lodge Recreation Hall. During this ticketed event, studio paintings from each
artist will be exhibited alongside a selection of the artists’ plein air “wet
paintings” produced during the week. On the final day, September 29, the art
exhibition and sale will be open to the public.
Yellowstone
Forever is the official education and fundraising nonprofit partner of
Yellowstone National Park. Proceeds from the event will benefit priority
projects and education initiatives in the park.
Maps of
specific artist demonstration locations will be available the week of the event
at all of Yellowstone Forever’s Park Stores park-wide.
For more event details including a list of artists, or to purchase tickets for the Saturday evening event, visit yellowstone.org/plein-air.
Christine
Gianas Weinheimer lives in Bozeman and has been writing about Yellowstone for
17 years.
