Interpreting Inner and Outer Landscapes

by Gregg Bruff

National Parks have long been an inspiration to many different types of artists – composers, poets, fiction writers, and painters. Indeed, it was early landscape artists like Thomas Moran, George Catlin, and photographer William Henry Jackson who provided images of magnificent western landscapes that encouraged influential citizens and law makers back east to establish several of the western National Parks. Who wouldnʼt be inspired by the “Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone”, or “Mount of the Holy Cross”, or “The Buffalo Chase”? Canadian National Parks also owe some of their early support to artists like A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer and J.E.H. Macdonald of the “Group of Seven”.

http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/canadian/The-Group-of- Seven.html

Indeed, artist George Catlin has been credited with the national park idea. While traveling through the western territories in 1832 he noticed the impacts of westward expansion on wildlife, wild country, and Indian populations. He suggested they might be preserved ʻʻby some great protecting policy of government . . . in a magnificent park . . . . A nationʼs park, containing man and beast, in all the wild and freshness of their natureʼs beauty”.

Following that tradition, some 29 National Park Service areas have artist in residence (AIR) programs through their Volunteer In Park Program http://www.nps.gov/archive/volunteer/air.htm. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshoreʼs AIR program began in 1996 when landscape artist Melanie Parke approached the Lakeshore with a proposal to start a program. She had previously facilitated the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore AIR program. Melanie continues to paint landscapes in the Leelenau area of Michigan.

http://www.parkekooyman.com

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Since 1996, the Lakeshore has had an artist each fall for all but one season.

Marsha Tuchscherer was the AIR in 2002 and painted along the eastern shoreline of the park. Her rich palette spoke of the great lake, beach and dune plants, and rock outcroppings. Hers was a looser, more impressionistic approach that relayed a particular vigor and movement.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Marsha-Tuchscherer/1495242129

William Lathrop was the Lakeshoreʼs Artist in Residence in 2005 and was inspired by the cliffs, dunes, forests and lakes of the park. As part of his research for his stay at a remote cabin along Twelvemile Beach, he read the biography of Thomas Moran, who painted here in 1860 – over 150 years ago. Moranʼs paintings are shot with stormy seas and brilliant sunrises, waterfalls, fog and cliffs. As is the practice, Bill donated a painting to the Lakeshoreʼs archives – a beautiful 42” x 26” oil painting of the Miners River where it meets Lake Superior.

http://www.wlathrop.com