Toast to The Arts & Parks

Artist Chelsea Bighorn in Saguaro National Park

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features mixed media artist Chelsea Bighorn, the National Parks Arts Foundation's June 2024 artist-in-residence at Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona.
Chelsea Bighorn was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. Her tribal affiliations are the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes from Montana and the Shoshone-Paiute from Northern Nevada. Bighorn's work is the result of her combining traditional Native American design with elements from her Irish American heritage. Using this process, she tells her personal history through her art. Bighorn has shown her work at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art, SITE Santa Fe, The Balzar Gallery and her work is currently on display at The Center for Native Futures in Chicago, IL. She graduated with honors from The Institute of American Indian Arts in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts.  More: http://www.chelseabighorn.com/ 
Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Rick San Nicolas - Master of Hawaiian Featherwork of Old Hawai‘i

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features Rick Makanaaloha Kia'imeaokekanaka San Nicolas (Kanaka Maoli) who returned for the fifth time as the National Parks Arts Foundation artist-in-residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. 
Recognized as Ke Kumu Hulu Nui, meaning "Master of Hawaiian Featherwork of Old Hawai‘i," San Nicolas is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating this art form. Through his expertise and passion, he ensures that the traditions of feather lei making continue for generations to come. San Nicolas draws inspiration directly from the landscape of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, feeling a deep connection to the environment and its historical significance. He finds inspiration in the ancient Hawaiian featherwork tradition, particularly in the regalia worn by Hawaiian Royalty and warriors.
This year Rick travels to Washington D.C. to present his featherwork for inclusion in the collection of the Museum of the Department of Interior as well as having it on display in the office of Secretary Deborah Haaland (Laguna Pueblo). He is also a consulting advisor in historical featherwork on the upcoming TV Series "Chief of War," starring Jason Momoa. More at: https://www.hawaiianfeathers.com/  
Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ 

Poet Carissa ”Lucky” Garcia Goes to Chaco Canyon

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation features Carissa "Lucky" Garcia, the Spring 2024 NPAF artist-in-residence in Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Carissa “Lucky” Garcia is an Indigenous/Chicana writer, performing artist, community organizer, anti-oppression educator and Indigenous Justice advocate. She is a founding member of the La Resistencia publishing press and poetry collective amplifying LGBTQ+ voices of color. Carissa’s storytelling communicates ideas that focus on her experience as an Iraq War veteran, Native American culture, love, politics, and her appreciation for comic books and science fiction. Her work has been featured at the University of Missouri Latinx Graduate Program, Rhode Island School of Design, UMKC Women of Color Leadership Conference, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Flatland KC, Prescott College, Redline Contemporary Arts Center, Dairy Arts Center, Denver Art Museum, and on the streets all across America. Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ Learn more about Chaco Culture National Historical Park at https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tanya Ortega - Photographer and Founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation

Welcome to the very first episode of Big Blend Radio's NEW "Women Making History" podcast featuring a Big Blend Radio "From the Vault" podcast of our "Parks & The Arts" show featuring Tanya Ortega, an accomplished photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF). Hear about the new podcast, Tanya's photography career and NPAF's unique artist-in-residence programs in national park units across the country.Check out Tanya's editorial Q&A about her photography: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/photography-art-insider-tanya-ortega/Listen to the Big Blend Radio Podcast Playlist of NPAF's Women Artists-in-Residence: https://soundcloud.com/bigblendradio/sets/npaf-women-artists Women's History within the National Parks Service: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/womenshistory/index.htm Follow this new Big Blend Radio "Women Making History" podcast: https://shows.acast.com/women-making-history Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Artist Diana Miller in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show features artist Diana Miller, the latest National Parks Arts Foundation artist-in-residence at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Diana lives on the island of Hawai’i near Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, combining her passion for art and environmental stewardship. Hear about her art, love of the park, and her advocacy for protecting native flora and fauna. WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/e8iaXSDMUqc Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National Parks Arts Foundation Artist Residencies in 2024

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Parks & Arts" Show features Tanya Ortega, photographer and founder of the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), who talks about the organization's unique month-long artist residencies in locations like Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, and Chaco Canyon and Fort Union in Northern New Mexico. Hear about how these artist residency opportunities are perfect for artists of all mediums, from painters and sculptors to photographers, composers, writers, musicians, and more.NPAF is a non-profit offering unique Artist-in-Residence Programs, Museum In-Loan Programs, and Workshops inspired by our National Parks, National Monuments, and World Heritage Sites. NPAF has supported over 300 programs, over 120 artists, and been the conduit for over a million dollars in artwork donations. Learn more: https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Traveling Musician and Composer Ben Cosgrove - Bearings Album

Traveling musician and composer Ben Cosgrove returns to Big Blend Radio's 1st Friday "Toast to The Arts & Parks" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) to talk about his recent travels, artist residency experiences, and beautiful new album "Bearings."Cosgrove’s new album "Bearings" represents the latest chapter in a career that to date has included solo performances in 49 states (all but Delaware), as well as artist residencies and collaborations with Acadia, Isle Royale, Glacier, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Parks (NPAF), White Mountain National Forest, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Chulengo Expeditions, the New England National Scenic Trail, and NASA. To write the new record, Cosgrove relied on a novel and improvisation-focused compositional style that aimed to reflect the real experience of learning topographical space through movement. Keep up with Ben at https://www.bencosgrove.com/ Check out Ben's previous Big Blend Radio podcast while he was the NPAF artist-in-residence in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/composer-ben-cosgrove-in-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park/ Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation's unique artist residency programs in parks across the country at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning Musician and Composer Chihsuan Yang

Chihsaun Yang returns to Big Blend Radio's "Toast to the Parks & Arts" Show with the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF) to talk about her new solo music and EP "Pearls" that was recently released as the electronic music duo ESCP with Bob Garrett.WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/xjCE1xkVuqo Chihsuan Yang (Violin, Erhu, Piano), a native of Taiwan, began studying music at a very early age. Today, her renowned skill and eclectic versatility with the violin, erhu, and piano can be heard throughout the globe. From playing with Yo-Yo Ma and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, to Grammy Award winner David Foster and playing for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Chihsuan’s body of work spans across a multitude of genres and reaches beyond borders. More: https://chihsuan.com/ We first met Grammy nominated and award-winning musician Chihsuan Yang in 2021 when she was finishing her month-long NPAF artist residency in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. She will be returning to perform in Hawai'i in winter 2024. You can hear our first interview with Chihsuan here: https://nationalparktraveling.com/listing/hawaii-volcanoes-artist-in-residence-chihsuan-yang/ Learn more about the National Parks Arts Foundation’s artist residency opportunities in national parks at https://www.nationalparksartsfoundation.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.