Posts Tagged ‘Grand Teton National Park’
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, DAD!
Have I got some Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters (RMPAP)  dates for YOU! You’ve heard that over 40 artists will converge next month in Grand Teton National Park for two weeks of plein air painting, demonstrations and events; all culminating in July 18th’s Grand Opening Gala and Sale at the Craig Thomas Discovery  & Visitors Center.  Now, a full artist demonstration schedule is available—-go out there and watch these amazing artists at work!  These are scheduled, set location, events:
SATURDAY, July 13: Â ARTISTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT, Oxbow Bend, 2-5 PM. Â Artists: Kathryn Turner, Stephen C. Datz, Jeanne Mackenzie.
TUESDAY, July 16:Â MORNING – 9 AM: Â Erin O’Connor (oils) – Jenny Lake Boat Dock area & Michael McClure (oils) – Taggart Lake Trailhead. Â AFTERNOON – 4 PM:Â Bill Davidson (oils)- Jackson Lake Lodge & Â Bill Sawczuk (oils)- Craig Thomas Visitor Center.
WEDNESDAY, July 17:  MORNING – 9 AM: Stacey Peterson (oils) – Craig Thomas Visitor Center  & Patti Andre (pastel) – Jenny Lake Boat Dock area.  AFTERNOON – 4 PM: Jake Gaedtke (oils) – Jackson Hole Visitor Information Center (north end of town, overlooking the Elk Refuge)  &  Cople / Swinney / Arndt (oils) – Jackson Lake Lodge.
FRIDAY, July 19:  MORNING – 9 AM:  Jennifer Hoffman (pastel) – Jackson Hole Visitor Information Center  &  David Schwindt (oils) – Jackson Lake Lodge. MORNING – 9 AM:  John Hughes (oils) – Craig Thomas Visitor Center. AFTERNOON – 4 PM: Keith Bond (oils) – Taggart Lake Trailhead & Ruth Rawhouser (oils) – Jenny Lake Boat Dock area.
(QUICK DRAW: Â July 20th, 9:00 am at Menor’s Ferry, Grand Teton National Park! Â All are welcome! Â Many artists, many paintings, all for sale after the paint-out!)Â
All this in addition to the Gala Opening Show & Sale, taking place at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitors Center on July 18th, beginning at 7:00 pm. This show and sale benefits Grand Teton National Park through the Grand Teton Association. All are welcome! Â Dozens and dozens of newly painted works by RMPAP artists will be on exhibition, and for sale. It’s one heck of a party! Arrive early to get a good look! Previews begin July 15th, and the show concludes July 21st. Â www.pleinairforthepark.org.
If you’re a nature photographer, passionate about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and its myriad habitats, rivers and lakes, valleys, canyons, geysers~~~and Yellowstone’s quintessential light, you undoubtedly know the photography of Edward Riddell. This fall, Riddell will take a limited number of students to Yellowstone, America’s first national park, for four full days of shooting. Dates are September 26-29th, 2013; an optional fifth day is September 30th. Riddell’s fall “Magic of Yellowstone” photography expedition accepts no more than 16 students; the experience is personal, thorough, exciting~~and most importantly, professional.
Riddell’s co-instructor, Jon Stuart, was an assistant at the Ansel Adams workshops in Yosemite in the 70′s. Ed and Jon have been teaching workshops in Yellowstone and the Tetons together for more than 35 years. Most recently Jon was Director of Photography and Exhibits at the Art Association. Jon and Ed have different photographic styles enabling students to learn different ways of “seeing” the same scenes.
Riddell’s love of nature began when, as a college graduate, he landed a job as a ranger-naturalist in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. He began working on photography projects for the Park and developed an interpretive photography program. Over the years Riddell has garnered national and international recognition for his photography, and for his role as founder of Riddell Advertising. For 23 years he ran one of the region’s most successful agencies with his wife, graphic designer and painter Lee Carlman Riddell. He has never ceased photographing; his work is inspired by Adams, Strand, Weston, Bullock and Cunningham. Based in the Yellowstone region since he first arrived, Riddell is arguably the photographer closest to its grandeur and nuances.
No experience is necessary to take part in this workshop; the only prerequisite is the desire to immerse yourself. Reservations are made on a first come-first serve basis. Tuition is $1,250 per student; an additional day is $250.
Edward Riddell
Participants will meet in Jackson at a predetermined location and carpool into Yellowstone. Those not driving are encouraged to reimburse drivers for expenses. Students are responsible for their own meals and lodging in Yellowstone National Park; Riddell provides full information upon registration, enabling students to make reservations at Yellowstone lodgings. Rooms in Yellowstone fill quickly, and it is highly recommended you book your workshop reservation as soon as possible.Â
A $625 non-refundable deposit reserves a spot in class; the balance is due by September 1st, 2013. If you opt for the additional fifth workshop day—and you may well wish to!—this fee must also be paid in advance.
Photo credits: All images of Yellowstone by Edward Riddell
For information, contact Ed Riddell via email:  ed@edwardriddell.com.  Telephone: 307-733-8093/ cell:  307-690-3980. Website: http://www.riddellphotoworkshops.com, where you can find further details—including daily itineraries—on Riddell’s workshops. Participants may register for the class on line.  To learn even more about Edward Riddell, visit http://www.edwardriddell.com .
“Cruise” by Travis Walker
“Stability is something we all seek. That’s why we’ve built things up. You can find amazing classes to take, but carving out your own space is another story. We don’t have a central place for that, and that’s the demand.” ~ Travis Walker
Now for that cake. This interview reflects Travis Walker’s views developed from years of working independently and otherwise in Jackson’s art scene.
“The way we’ve built our arts scene, it hasn’t been community based,” says Jackson Hole artist and newest NEA grant reviewer Travis Walker. “We have a great commodity. Galleries are lined with paintings and artwork. But when we built the Center, we forgot about the cake. The cake is artists. Without them, nothing works. If you don’t have people in classes, if you can’t afford to live here, you’re not invested, and you have to move. We’re finite, and we deal with the same people.”
(Insertion: The Center for the Arts and the Art Association are two different entities. As you’ll see, Walker realizes that the expense of real estate is a heavy mantle for arts groups here. Classes represent grass roots efforts, touch countless lives, create indelible memories, and are highly formative for Jackson’s young people, as well as adults. The point is there are many currents at work; every class listing represents vast numbers of people of all ages either making, observing or leading a class.)
People of means who can afford studio space or industrious, hard-working people like John Frechette, whose business is expanding, are doing well. But real estate is a big problem, says Walker. We need to make space affordable—it’s difficult, yet very desireable to be here. The only way to attract people is to create affordable space, and now we’re back in a situation where decent space is hard to find.
Walker believes the way to start anything is to create work space.
“The Factory was a place for artists to work, the rent was cheap, and people —kids, too—could come in and see how art was made. We did have to shut down, but for reasons unrelated to this core need. We all had a common goal,” he says. “At this stage in my career I don’t need classes. But now what? Artists who know their craft like classes, but not every month. The demand for affordable studio space, though—that’s something artists pay for every month. It’s steady income for the building occupied.”
Walker is giving away his plan. Is he ok with that? Yes.
“You have to know how to approach all sorts of people, and I’m not sure that is something you can learn in school. Things change. Our Latino citizens are, as of the 2010 census, almost 30% of our population. Those kids are in my classes. It’s organic; we have to change. I’ve changed. People have not known what the hell I was doing; we were all fluctuating violently in reaction to our crashing local economy. We’re still seeing the fallout.”
Maybe THAT will change. The desire is present. Arts work together.
“One spare chromosome | And my offspring next to me | A linear strand.”
I wrote that haiku as a response to Jenny’s piece, “Tooth Diary pg.6″ when we collaborated on a book, “Collection.” Â This particular work suggests new life beginning to supplant older matter.
What’s so much fun about Culture Front is that you NEVER know what’s going to happen. You know who’s on the agenda, and what any given month’s theme will be, but that doesn’t mean we’ll  stick to that theme. You go, you get a drink at the Rose Bar (if you are 21 or older—and the earlier you get there, the better because those bartenders make such complicated drinks that it’s like their composing a full symphony!) and you point your face towards the front of the room where Meg Daly and her guests commence their 90-minute presentation.
Wednesday, May 29th, beginning at 5:30 pm, Culture Front welcomes Jackson artists Jenny Dowd (newly ensconced at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, thank you very much!), Andrew Munz (ensconced at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts,in a bunch of plays and a writer), and Aaron Wallis!  I’m passing out. Wallis, former arts writer at the Jackson Hole Daily and un-censored critic of Jackson’s art scene and the world at large, as well as an artist, is going to be a part of that evening’s talk, “First Impressions: Looking Beyond Initial Impact.”Â
This is just too good! Wallace, as we all know, has seen (and instigated) his own brand of controversy and art dust-ups here in Jackson.
Only last week several of the Town Council and Teton County Commissioners got in such a big fight—a shout-down in public chambers that was so bad the session was tabled. The News & Guide named the major players, so ask them about that. The write-up made the rumble sound much less crazy than it really was, says one observer. Funding issues are tense! Thank goodness that meeting wasn’t taking place at, say, the Virginian bar!
“La Jolla Tree” – A. Wallis
I doubt any knock-downs will happen on May 29th. It’s great Wallis is on the panel. He’s a super smart dude, with prodigious art history knowledge.
“What information do we get from a first impression?” Meg Daly asks. “Often what attracts a viewer or reader to a work is the first impression – some kind of impact, positive or negative. However, closer reading or looking can reveal layers and meaning not immediately apparent. The payoff of a work of art may be far greater than its initial appearance (suggests).”
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Down the Spring/Summer arts road we go~~~
Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 10am – 4pm, the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s (NMWA) “Plein Air Fest” happens at NMWA’s stunning location just north of town. The event is sponsored by Plein Air Magazine, and over 30 artists will be participating, taking four hours to complete their works.  Art will be sold via “Silent Bid.” Lots of good cooking with local chefs, family activities and music to be had!  It’s all free, save the jambalaya tastings, which go for $10 for 10 tastes, $25 for as much as you can taste!  www.wildlifeart.orgÂ
A note: “Plein Air Fest” is not to be confused with “Plein Air for the Park,” a two-week long plein air event taking place in and around Grand Teton National Park July 8-21st. Much more on that event soon!
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WAY out in the future–this is really a Fall event–the Great Apes Summit takes place here in Jackson Hole. Dates are September 21-24th, 2013. It’s possible to register now; the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is a major partner.  “New tools. New ideas. New voices. NO BOUNDARIES.” That’s the hook!  Click here to find out about registration, programs and cost. Heads up: Conservation and the Arts are going to merge more and more here in Jackson Hole as time goes by. We’re taking our original arts history to new levels!
Image by Taylor Glenn
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
On Sunday, May 12th, National Geographic photographer Wade Davis makes an appearance at Jackson’s first annual Mountain Story Festival, courtesy of the Murie Center. There’s no getting away from the fact that climbing treacherous, challenging peaks here—and anywhere in the world—is a huge part of our culture. Climbers take in the outdoors in a mind-bending way. The closest I’ve come to being that high, with a few thousand feet between me and flat ground is the year I skydived, on a dare, at college. I’d do that again before I’d climb the Grand or any other giant, jagged, craggy mountain!
Others have infinitely more guts. These extreme personalities can’t keep themselves from climbing; they climb in their sleep. Which is why Davis’ talk on his new book “Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest” should be packed. Mothers, be warned! Content may be nerve racking!  7:00 pm start, Pink Garter Theater, downtown Jackson.
Wednesday, May 15th, the Murie Center’s Mardy’s Conservation Collection Book Club meets to discuss the Murie’s book, Wapiti Wilderness.
“In this autobiographical tale…Olaus and Mardy describe their life together, raising a family in the mountainous wilderness of the Tetons, while Olaus worked for the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey,” says the Center. The gathering takes place at the the Murie’s original home, Murie Ranch, in Moose, WY, at 6:30 pm. Lively discussion, reflection and inspiration are a promise. Â www.muriecenter.org.
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The Grand Teton Association (GTA) has announced its line-up of plein air artists for this summer’s “Artists in the Environment” (AIE) series, taking place the second Saturday of every month, June – September, in Grand Teton National Park(GTNP). Each of those weekends, regional plein air painters provide free painting demonstrations at locations throughout GTNP.  Founded by the late, great plein air artists Greg McHuron and Conrad Schwiering, the program has offered countless visitors and art lovers a free chance to see artists capturing the beauty surrounding us.
I have a personal passion for this program~~I believe the history of plein air painting in this valley, and in the Greater Yellowstone Region, is one of America’s most important art history stories. Its tradition is unbreakable; the artists’ bonds are like steel.
For fifty years, the GTA has celebrated GTNP via the arts. All proceeds realized by the GTA serve to broaden education, research and interpretation of GTNP.
Times and locations are TBA, but participating artists for 2013 are: Â Dwayne Harty – June 15th; Â Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters & Co., – July 13th; Wendell Field - August 10th; Â and Fred Kingwill - September 14th. Â More on all these artists as summer progresses!
