NPS - National Park Service

06/30/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/30/2022 15:27

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Welcomes 2022 Artist-in-Residence Amy Hook-Therrien

News Release Date:
June 30, 2022

Contact:Rainey McKenna, 802-478-4160

Contact:Kelly Sczomak, 802-457-3368 ext. 227

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is pleased to announce its 2022 Artist-in-Residence (AIR), Amy Hook-Therrien, a visual artist with a specialization in watercolor. Her residency at the national park will run from June until October and feature numerous events, workshops and open studio days.

Hook-Therrien grew up in Chelsea, Vermont, where she formed deep connections with the forests surrounding her. She went on to study art at the University of Maine in Orono, where she earned her Bachelor's of Fine Arts, focusing in painting. After graduating, Hook-Therrien returned to rural Vermont to immerse herself in nature and painting. She has since been featured in multiple publications and her work displayed in galleries throughout the state. In 2019, Hook-Therrien was awarded the Abenaki Artists Association's Artist of the Year Award.

Hook-Therrien primarily works in watercolor and chooses the natural world as her subject. With her landscapes, she aims to portray the tranquility and fragility found in nature. At Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park she will be exploring art inspired by the plants and animals who call this place home and working on an alphabet series inspired by the natural world and her Abenaki heritage.

"I am looking forward to connecting with visitors that come through the park," said Hook-Therrien. "I hope to be able to offer an experience that they might not normally find; to be able to show how art and nature go hand in hand."

"As a local artist and citizen of the Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation, Amy brings deep ties and a personal lens to her artistic interpretation of this landscape." said Superintendent Rick Kendall. "We encourage park visitors to engage with her during her open studios and invite artists of all skill level to register to attend one of her workshops."

Hook-Therrien will host open studio hours weekly and have plein air art demonstrations at several park events throughout the season, including at Forest Festival, on Saturday, September 24, and Peak to Peak to Pogue, on Saturday, October 15. She will also be offering the following workshops at the park.

Saturday July 23rd and Saturday October 22nd, 12pm-3:30pm
Guided Meditation Hike and Watercolor Adventure
Join Ranger (and yoga instructor) Jen Jackson and Artist-in-Residence Amy Hook-Therrien for a duet program that involves use of all five senses. No prior painting or meditation experience required.
All ages, limit 16 people
Starting Location: Carriage Barn Visitor Center

Friday, September 2nd, 5:30pm-7pm
Sip & Paint Summer Soiree (Leaf painting 101)
Enjoy the final days of summer while Artist, Amy Hook-Therrien, will be painting leaves from the forest in watercolor. You are welcome to take a mini painting lesson and try your hand at this incredible medium. Sit under the tent and paint or take your supplies to the garden and work among summer's floral splendor. Bring your own painting beverage of choice and enjoy a warm summer night on the mansion lawn.
All ages
Location: Mansion Lawn

Workshops are free and open to the public, but space is limited and registration is required. To register for workshops, visit www.nps.gov/mabi.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP is one of over 50 national park areas that host Artist-in Residence programs. These programs continue the legacy of artists' connection to national parks and the influence their art, photos, and prose have had on their creation and protection. Applications for the 2023 Artist-in-Residence program will be available in the fall. For more information about Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and the Artist-in-Residence Program visit www.nps.gov/mabi