This exhibition takes viewers on a quintessential American journey—an expedition of discovery, wonder, and contemplation that begins and ends with our national parks. With scenes ranging from the stark desert landscapes of Utah to the steaming geysers of Yellowstone National Park to the rugged ice-capped peaks of the Tetons, and the iconic parks of the East, like Acadia and Great Smoky Mountain, the works capture both the grandeur and quiet beauty of our national parks and monuments. More than mere celebrations of nature, these works are personal testaments by artists who were moved by the richness of the worlds and environments kept whole as national parks, for the benefit of the entire country.  

Throughout our history, the parks have been under threat from industry and tourism, and this exhibition shows some of the vibrancy, vitality, and beauty that would be lost if these lands were surrendered to commercial interests. 

As Senator and “Father” of Earth Day Gaylord Nelson reminds us, “The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity.” Nelson’s sentiment is even more critical today, and these works invite you to behold our vast American riches—our National Parks.

This exhibition features more than forty works by six acclaimed regional artists: Thomas Annear, Wendy Bale, Angela Caley, James Hoggard, Tom Janik, and Thomas Paquette. Working in a rich variety of media and sizes, the artists engage the splendor of the parks through black and white and color photographs; oil, gouache, and acrylic paintings; and paper cuts and mixed-medium works.