Artistic Value

Artist-in-Residence paints in Arches National Park, Utah.

NPS photo by Kait Thomas.

Introduction

A grand vista, such as the view from Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, can kindle a sense of wonder and stimulate the imagination. As described in Chapter 2, Thomas Moran’s painting of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone harnessed that intangible connection to the aesthetic value of the Yellowstone region to help establish the world’s first national park. People find inspiration in nature, and geologic sites provide a source of the intellectual impulse for art, invention, and creative problemsolving. Some national parks and other geoheritage areas have Artist-in-Residence programs to provide artists with unique opportunities to create works of art inspired by the scenery and to share their work with the public.

Artistic Value at a Glance

Geoheritage sites offer artistic value by:

• Inspiring awe and fueling creative expression through the arts; and
• Promoting conservation through artistic appreciation of natural landscapes.

Featured Links

• NPS—Artist-in-Residence Programs
• Landscape Art and the Founding of the National Park Service

Park Stories

Related Links

• NPS—Geoheritage Foundations: Selected Values Typologies
• NPS—Geology—Photo Galleries
• NPS—Arts in the Parks
• NPS—Geology

America's Geoheritage