Glen Jean, WV - Need more natural beauty in your day? A new online nature exhibit can be viewed at https://www.nps.gov/neri/youth-arts-in-the-parks.htm and features the art of local students, participants of the Youth Arts in the Parks 2020 Appalachian Spring Wildflower Art Contest. These youth are using art to help others learn about regional ecology and celebrate the arrival of spring in this annual contest open to all students in grades K - 12 from Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers Counties.
The talents of local students yielded amazing and creative works of art through the use of watercolor and acrylic paints, oil pastels, pencils, paper, pottery, woodworking, and more. This year’s contest had 310 participants. The top 67 juried pieces are now showcased in this online exhibit. This year’s Best in Show youth artists are: Eli Adkins, 2nd grade, Divide Elementary, Fayette Co. (Best K-2 grade); Olivia Tweeddale, 5h grade, private entry, Raleigh Co. (Best 3-5 grade); Jaina Davis, 8th grade, Independence Middle, Raleigh Co. (Best 6 - 8 grade); Avery Miller, 12th grade, Oak Hill High, Fayette Co. (Best 9-12); and Siera Underwood, 12th grade, Oak Hill High, Fayette Co. (Best in Show overall). These top five Best in Show pieces are scheduled to be included in Tamarack’s Vividly Chromatic art exhibition in the David L. Dickirson Fine Art Gallery, alongside the works of adult artists. Though Tamarack is temporarily closed at this time in response to the COVID-19 world health pandemic, check https://www.tamarackwv.com/for the current status of the Tamarack facility.
Enjoy this celebration of spring and the arts. Let this wildflower art inspire you to discover nature in your neighborhood and explore your creativity through the arts.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
