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Artist in Residence Program at state park
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Beaver Creek Valley State Park will be hosting three artists this season in a new Artist in Residence Program. Each artist will be providing a program or workshop open to the public for free as part of their residence.
This is the first time an Artist in Residence Program will be held at a state park in Minnesota, according to local park manager Anne Selness. The program is modeled after a program the National Parks Service uses.
“I was trying to figure out someway to better utilize the east side of our shelter, which we recently did some updates on,” Selness explained. “We had some state people down touring the park, when I told them I was trying to figure out some way to better utilize the park shelter. One of the state folks came up with the idea of an artist in residence.”
Selness said she did some research on the national program and put together an application form similar to the one the National Parks Service uses. She sent the form out to artists in the region. A portion of the application form included:
“The Beaver Creek Valley State Park Artist in Residence (BCVAIR) program offers artists the opportunity to live and work in this unique environment for a period of up to two weeks. The works completed under the program will contribute to the public understanding and appreciation of Beaver Creek Valley State Park. It is hoped that these works will characterize this Blufflands park for present and future generations, giving park visitors and the general public an opportunity to see our heritage through the eyes and ears of contributing artists.
“A State Park Residency is for serious professionals who wish to work alone and unfettered in the challenge and beauty of these woodland hills, valleys and meandering streams. It is for those who deeply care about the environment and wish to contribute to it as well as benefit from it. The park can accommodate six residents per year.”
Mary Jane Hendel and Megan Jones from the Bluff Country Artists Gallery Board of Directors reviewed the applications with Selness and helped select the artists for this year’s program.
The first artist will be Randy Larson, a landscape photographer from southwestern Wis. Larson will be conducting a workshop at the local state park on Saturday, May 16 from 9-11 a.m. The workshop will take place along the river near the main parking area in the park and will cover landscape photography techniques. Participants are encouraged to bring their cameras, and topics covered will include composition, light, exposure and inspiration. There is no cost and all levels of experience are welcome to participate, including kids of all ages.
Larson lives in the hills and valleys of southwestern Wisconsin, southeast of Dodgeville. He and his wife Karla live on 40 acres of land that was part of the dairy farm he grew up on.
Most of Larson’s work features the landscapes of the upper Midwest-Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Ontario, Canada.
“I love the North Woods, but am deeply connected to the ‘driftless’ area of southwestern Wisconsin. I am fortunate to live in an area that I think is as beautiful as anywhere in the world, and is often overlooked by photographers. I have a strong loyalty to making regional images, and though I do occasionally travel outside this area, it is home that I always look forward to coming back to,” Larson stated on his website.
Selness has three artists scheduled for this camping season. The second artist will present a program June 6. The third artist is scheduled for September.
For further information about the Artist in Residence Program, contact: Beaver Creek Valley State Park at 507-724-2107.
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