Zion National Park's new 'Artists-in-Residence' get to work
Zion National Park has announced its 2023 Artists-in-Residence, with three artists all working through different media scheduled to live and work inside the park boundaries.
Most national parks now host at least one artist-in-residence each year, and over the years Zion has hosted poets, dancers, musicians, painters, photographers and others.
The artists live and work inside the park for one full month, producing art as they go and leaving with projects that organizers hope will add to Zion's interpretive history.
Up first, working in the park this month, is Kathy Hodge, a visual artist whose paintings of wildlife and landscapes have garnered international acclaim, including her previous work at national parks like Rocky Mountain National Park and national forests in Alaska.
In June, photographer, author and poet Jason Gray is scheduled to participate. Gray, whose latest book, "Radiation King", won the Idaho Prize for Poetry, is known for his work with animals and natural environments.
In the fall, working from mid-October to mid-November, will be painter Alison Green, a popular local artist who lives in Springdale and whose work is featured at the Juniper Sky Gallery in St. George.
The art created by these artists will be placed in the park's permanent museum, in interpretive collections or, through a partnership with the Zion National Park Forever Project, be used to financially support the artist-in-residence program.
"This art helps visitors understand and appreciate Zion and reflects the National Park Services's mission to conserve the park's landscapes, plants, animals and history," a park representative wrote in an email.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Meet Zion National Park's 'Artists-in-Residence'
