NPS Photo

Charlie Russell at the Bull Head Lodge and three unidentified women

2008 Artist in Residence Program
Artists and Glacier National Park
The interaction between Glacier National Park’s landscape and artists is not a new phenomenon. Native American and European artists have found spiritual inspiration in the land, wildlife, and flora of the region beginning long before the park’s establishment in 1910. That inspiration has been expressed in a wide diversity of media: painting, poetry, folklore, sculpture, woodcarving, photography, music, and prose.

The Great Northern Railway built a network of accommodations to serve park visitors in the park’s early years. In order to enhance their promotional efforts, the railway invited accomplished European and American artists to live and work in Glacier. The work of artists such as John Fery, Kathryn Leighton, and Winold Reiss depicting Glacier’s landscape and the lifestyle of the neighboring Blackfeet tribe were featured in Great Northern’s brochures and adorned walls in the hotels and chalets throughout the park.

However, not all of Glacier’s artists came to the park by way of the railroad. One of the most well known artists associated with the park was Charles M. Russell. Known by his friends as ‘Charlie’, this self-taught painter, sculptor, and storyteller came to Glacier in 1907 and spent almost twenty summers on the shore of Lake McDonald. Best known for his depictions of the 19th century West and its inhabitants, Charley found a somewhat different inspiration in Glacier’s mountains and forests. During his summer retreats to the park, he created paintings and sculpture that echoed this unique landscape. Many of his creations were made from moss, bark, and other natural materials gathered from the woods surrounding the rustic cabin he and his wife Nancy christened “Bull Head Lodge.”

Glacier’s Artist-in-Residence Program
The concept of setting aside land as a “national park” stems from the original idea for Yellowstone National Park. The work of painter Thomas Moran and photographer William Henry Jackson in depicting the scenic and natural features of Yellowstone was instrumental in Congress’ decision to establish the park. The purpose of Glacier National Park’s Artist-in-Residence Program is to stimulate and foster the artistic exploration of this natural and cultural treasure and to share the artist’s inspiration with the public through educational programs and exhibits. In this manner, contemporary artists can continue to explore the concepts first contemplated by earlier artists such as Moran, Russell, and Reiss and inspire others through their artistic endeavors.

2008 Program Focus
To support the park’s growing environmental education program, two (2) artists will be selected based on their abilities to produce children’s poetry, prose, stories, puppet shows, plays, and song lyrics (for existing or original music) and music. These products must be about Glacier and its plants, animals, habitats, geology, natural processes, history and beauty and suitable for use with elementary-age school children. Thus, the 2008 Artist-in-Residence Program is open to children’s writers, poets, composers, song writers and musicians.

Selections will be based on applicants who demonstrate the ability to produce materials suitable for use with elementary-age students. The artists and park education staff will agree upon a final product (e.g. stories about park animals in winter, poems about the beauty of the mountains or park history, kid-friendly songs and lyrics about park resources, etc.) that will be produced during the residency. This original work resulting from the residency will be donated to the United States Government. This donation will include publishing and reproduction rights. This original work will be shared with the public through exhibition, publication, or other appropriate means.

Selected artists will receive lodging for a four-week period during the summer in order to allow them the opportunity to pursue their particular art form and to develop materials for use in the park’s education program. Residencies will occur between mid-June and Labor Day. No stipend is available. Artists must provide their own transportation and are responsible for the upkeep and cleaning of their lodging.

How to Apply
For the 2008 season, applications must be postmarked on or before February 15, 2008.

A special committee consisting of National Park Service staff and representative park partners will select Glacier National Park’s Artists-in-Residence for 2008.

Applying artists must submit the following:

• A resume (not exceeding 2 pages) that highlights education, experience and training along with skills in presenting public education programs related to art; a summary of creative works; and, if applicable, professional brochures or similar publications.
• Writers must submit representative prose, short stories, plays or poetry that reflects the ability to write for children. Musicians and composers must submit lyrics and audio recordings of their work.
• A brief statement from applicant stating what she/he hopes to achieve from a residency in Glacier National Park and how their work will benefit the park’s environmental education program as described above. Describe in a clear, yet concise manner, what types of products you could produce that we might use in our program.
• A non-refundable $10.00 check to the “Glacier Natural History Association.” These funds will be used to process applications, return application materials to the applicants and develop Artist-in-Residence exhibits.

Mail application materials by February 15, 2008 to:

Matt Graves, Artist-in-Residence Coordinator
Glacier National Park
P.O. Box 128
1 Going-to-the-Sun Road (FedEx or UPS)
West Glacier, MT59936

Questions regarding Glacier’s Artist-in-Residence Program should be directed to Matt Graves, West Lakes District Interpreter, (406) 888-7942 or e-mail us