East Fork Cabin-NPS Photo

Kesler Woodward, Denali National Park's first Artist-in-Residence, has painted Alaska and the circumpolar North, from Hudson Bay in Canada to the Bering Strait and Siberia, for more than 25 years. An Alaska resident since 1977, his work is included in all major public collections in Alaska and in museum collections on both coasts of the United States. He is Professor of Art, Emeritus, at the University of Alaska, where he taught painting for twenty years before retiring to paint full time in 2000. Kesler serves as the program advisor and on the selection committee.

Artists in National Parks

Artists have had a major impact on the creation and development of America's national parks since the beginning of the national park movement. Dramatic nineteenth century paintings of the western landscape raised public consciousness about the natural wonders of the West and helped stimulate interest in their preservation. In fact, public response to Thomas Moran's splendid landscape paintings done on the Hayden U.S. Geological Survey of the Yellowstone region in 1871 led directly to the creation of America's first national park.

The artist Belmore Browne was one of the first proponents of the establishment of Mt. McKinley (now Denali) National Park, in the early years of the twentieth century. Not only an accomplished painter and outdoorsman, but a superb mountaineer who was on three of the most important pioneering climbs on Denali, in 1906, 1910, and 1912. Browne joined Charles Sheldon in proposing protection of the land and animals of the Denali region, and their testimony led directly to the establishment of the park in 1917.

Since that time, practically every important landscape painter who has worked in Alaska has painted "The Mountain," and many have explored and painted the regions surrounding it which are now part of Denali National Park and Preserve. These artists--Sydney Laurence, Eustace Ziegler, Ted Lambert, Jules Dahlager, and a host of their followers--created paintings, drawings, and prints which have played a significant role in establishing not just the image of the Park, but of Alaska, in the minds of the American public and the world.

Numerous National Parks in America have begun Artist-in-Residence programs since 1984. With the establishment of this program, Denali National Park joins the list of those parks which seek to recognize and support the role played by artists in preservation and interpretation of our country's natural wonders.

Artist-in-Residence Program - Denali National Park

The Artist-in-Residence program at Denali National Park began in 2001, and offers professional artists the opportunity to pursue their work amidst the natural splendors of Denali Park. The park currently provides the use of the historic East Fork Cabin for ten day periods from June through August. Other accommodations may be available. No stipend is provided.

The East Fork Cabin, also known as the Murie Cabin, was the base from which the naturalist Adolph Murie conducted his landmark study of wolves, sheep, and predator/prey relationships in the park from 1939-41. Built in the late 1920s by the Alaska Road Commission, the Murie cabin is located 43 miles into the park, just off the park road, in a dramatic setting on the East Fork of the Toklat River between Sable Pass and Polychrome Pass. A rustic but well-equipped base in which to work and from which to explore, the 14' x 16' cabin has an outhouse, propane heater, range, oven, refrigerator, bunk beds, and a full complement of cooking equipment. There is no electricity or running water, but water jugs may be replenished at Park Ranger stations and visitors' facilities, and showers are available at the Toklat Ranger Station 12 miles from the East Fork cabin. Artists chosen must be comfortable in a wilderness setting.

In return for this opportunity, artists-in-residence agree to donate to the park an original piece of work representative of their stay. Donated artwork will characterize Denali National Park for present and future generations and offer the park visitor and the general public an opportunity to see the park through the eyes of significant contemporary artists.

Selection of Artists-in-Residence

For the 2006 season, the program will be open only to visual artists. As there is currently another program for professional photographers, this year’s program will not accept applications from artists working in the medium of photography. We expect to include a wide range of other types of artists in future years.

A panel of artists and National Park Service personnel, appointed by the Superintendent of Denali National Park, will review applications from professional artists on an annual basis. Selection will be made on the basis of required entry materials, vision, new and innovative ways of responding to the park, and recognized accomplishment as demonstrated in those materials.

Application requirements must be followed precisely. Insufficient or excess material will result in rejection without consideration by the panel. Required application materials include:

2. No more than 6 professional quality 35mm slides, in a plastic slide sheet. Each slide should be numbered and clearly labeled with the title, date, size, and medium of the work. A separate list of all the submitted slides, with the same information, numbered to correspond with the slides, must be included.

3. A brief statement of intent, not to exceed one page, stating what the applicant hopes to achieve as a result of a residency at Denali National Park.

4. A self-addressed, stamped envelope of adequate size for return of slides, if return is desired. Written materials will not be returned, and slides will be returned only if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided. Slides of those artists chosen will be held for staff informational and training purposes.

Calendar

Entries will be accepted with postmarks dated November 15, 2005 through January 31, 2006. Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be considered. Notification of selection will be made by March 15, 2006. Successful applicants will be contacted for request of proposed dates at that time.

Applications should be addressed to:

For further information, contact: