Arts for the Parks

We are pleased to announce that Thea Flanagan was selected as one of the
Top 100 Artists for the 2006 Arts for the Parks Competition.

Her entry:

A Vista Unveiled
Acadia National Park
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 32"
$4100 (starting bid)
September 16 - 20th Annual Awards Banquet and Ceremony
Jackson Lake Lodge
Grand Teton National Park

Thea Flanagan was selected as one of the
Top 100 Artists (for the forth year in a row!) for the 2003 Arts for the Parks Competition.

Her entry:

Rhythm in Blue
Acadia National Park
Acrylic on canvas
18" x 24"
$3500 (starting bid)

Thea's works were selected for the
Top 100 Artists and Top Mini 50 for the 2002 Arts for the Parks Competition:

Her entries:

Top 100 - 2002

Tidal Tapestry
Acadia National Park
Acrylic on canvas
20" x 30"
$5800 (starting bid)
Sold

Top Mini 50 - 2002

The Pools Within
Acadia National Park
Acrylic on canvas
14" x 11"
$1400 (starting bid)

Thea's work was selected for the
Top 100 Artists for the 2001 Arts for the Parks Competition.

Her entry:

Within a Pool Pondered
Acadia National Park
Acrylic on canvas
18" x 24"
$3400 (starting bid)

This piece was sold on Saturday, September 15, the evening of the awards banquet in Jackson, Wyoming.

Thea won the grand prize for Region I (all entries east of the Mississippi) in the 2000 competition. Congratulations Thea!

The artwork:

Ebb Tide Rhythms
Acadia National Park
Image size: 16" x 32"
Acrylic on canvas
$3000 (starting bid)

was sold the evening of Saturday, September 16, 2000 during the 14th Annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction. This event was held at Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park.

What is Arts for the Parks?

Arts for the Parks was an annual art competition and exhibition, created in 1986 by the National Park Academy of the Arts, in cooperation with the National Park Foundation. The Academy's mission was to help create public awareness for our national parks by searching out artists, professional and non-professional alike, whose paintings and drawings best capture the "essence" of the landscape, wildlife and history of the more than 375 units of our National Parks. Inspired by the spirit of America's pioneer landscape artists, the competition was designed to reward the artists for their imaginative and artistic celebration of our parks., and to contribute financially to programs benefitting the National Park Service. One of the richest art competitions in America, Arts for the Parks offered a $50,000 cash purchase prize to the Grand Prize winning artist, plus another $50,000 to other award winning finalists. By the contest deadline of June 1st each year, Arts for the Parks had received thousands of slide entries from artists who pour forth their visions of our national parks, creating an astounding collection of images all sharing a love and respect for art and America's heritage. It was from this body of artwork that the best 100 images, or the "Top 100", were selected each year by their professional panel of jurors.

What is the Top 100 Exhibition and Tour?

After the awards ceremony and banquet celebration in September, where the winners were announced, the best 100 artworks from each from each contest went on a one-year nationwide tour. The Top 100 Tour had become one of the most outstanding displays of contemporary representational paintings and drawings, and was a well-respected showcase for established and emerging artists world-wide. The Top 100 Tour has broken attendance records in several cities and has great public appeal for both it's artistic value, and it's national park subject matter. Said to be a "virtual family vacation to our National Parks - without all the stress!" the Arts for the Parks Top 100 Tour was an event people of all ages enjoyed. This event was eventually replaced by Paint the Parks which is part of the Paint America Association.

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