Show your love this season in the way of a West Virginia wildflower with Youth Arts in the Park. Celebrate ecology during the Appalachian Spring Wildflower Art Contest.
Jodi French-Burr, National Park Service Ranger and Youth Arts in the Parks Coordinator, said “The Youth Arts in the Park contest is a way for students in West Virginia to be able to see their backyard as something beautiful without having to add something crazy. Many of the students have amazing, out of the box ideas with these projects. Some students can make up some of the most beautiful things. The contest is a way to bring in arts and the study of interrelationships among the living organisms, also known as the ecosystem. It can even help some learn about where they live and what can grow around them, even what is grown around the gorge.”
The art can be made out of anything, such as clay or even just using oil pastels. This contest should be taken very seriously. These judges know what good art really is. When you really think about it, why wouldn’t you want to take art seriously? Art is amazing; it can show who you are in so many ways and the talent that you have within you.
All the flowers and plants have to be connected to native blooming Appalachian wildflowers within the state. You can make a scene in your artwork. If you do decide to make a scene, it is recommended for the wildflower to be in its normal habitat.
There are reference pages to see the lists and pictures of the wildflowers that you may choose.
Wildflower Checklist:
(https://www.nps.gov/neri/appalachian–spring-wildflower-art-contest-species-checklist.htm)
Wildflower Photo References:
(https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?pg=5722046&id=5839987F-1DD8-B71B-0B353C7ACAFB1334)
Youth Arts in the Park is a good way to learn more about where you live and what kind of plants and flowers you can find within the state. Also, it has helped some students realize that we should take care of where we live and to keep it beautiful- maybe even make it better than before.
The contest will soon be taking submissions from Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers Counties from January 6- February 9, 2020.
If you have any questions, you can look at the NPS website: https://www.nps.gov/neri/youth-arts-in-the-parks.htm
Or you can call Jodi French-Burr at 304-465-2632, or email her at jodi_french-burr@nps.gov.