Artists Named for 2016 Chilkoot Trail Residency
News Release
Three visual artists selected for unique art program on historic gold rush trail
March 10, 2016 Whitehorse, Yukon Parks Canada Agency/Yukon Arts Centre/US National Park Service
Parks Canada, together with the Yukon Arts Centre and the US National Park Service, today announced the names of the three artists selected for the 2016 Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency Program. Participants will combine their artistic abilities with a love of the outdoors to offer a unique experience for visitors along the iconic Chilkoot Trail.
Each year, three artists are chosen to participate in this cross-border creative journey – one from Canada, one from the United States and one regional (Yukon or Alaska). The 2016 program will feature Dan Hudson (Canada), Julie Zhu (United States), and Andrea Nelson (Alaska).
In its sixth consecutive year, the program sees artists hiking the historic route of Tlingit traders and turn-of-the-century prospectors from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Alaska to the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site in Canada. By creating art on the trail and leading workshops and art talks in nearby communities afterwards, these artists bring contemporary art to new and wider audiences and inspire an appreciation for the legacy of the Chilkoot Trail across both nations.
Quick Facts
- Beginning at tidewater in Dyea, Alaska and ending on the shores of the Southern Lakes headwaters of the Yukon River, the Chilkoot Trail covers 53 kilometres (33 miles) and reaches an elevation of 1074 metres (3,525 feet) at the pass.
- In 1998, the Canadian and American governments signed a joint declaration creating the Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park to commemorate on the 100th anniversary of the great gold rush and this shared chapter in the history of the North.
- The long-standing spirit of cooperation between Canada and the United States is demonstrated through the coordinated management of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site. Close collaboration provides a seamless experience for visitors on both sides of the border, from a single 1-800 reservation line, to a jointly staffed Trail Centre in Skagway and coordinated search and rescue operations.
- In 2015, more than 2,450 visitors hiked the Chilkoot Trail from June to mid-September.
Quotes
“Parks Canada is proud to work in partnership to offer the Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency Program, another example of the innovative programs and unique and meaningful visitor experiences offered at Parks Canada places. Through a creative process, artists are inspired to share the stunning landscapes and history of the trail and the Klondike Gold Rush. We invite visitors to share in the experience and learning opportunities offered by the artists along the trail in 2016.”
Ed McLean, Site Superintendent, Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, Parks Canada Yukon
“We are excited about the artists selected for 2016. The unique perspectives offered by the artists challenge ideas and increase awareness of the Chilkoot Trail, both nationally and internationally, inspiring people to learn more about our national park lands.”
Benjamin Hayes, Chief of Interpretation and Education, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, USA
“This program is truly a unique artist residency combining wilderness backpacking and contemporary art making. The Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency has hosted so many innovative projects such as adventure art filmmaking, collective comic creation, and a set of First Nations regalia for the Chilkoot. Ultimately, what we love most is the artists’ interaction and engagement with the hikers on the trail and with our communities of Whitehorse and Skagway.”
Mary Bradshaw, Gallery Director, Yukon Arts Centre
Related Product
Backgrounder: 2016 Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency Program Artist Biographies
Associated Links
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park (US National Park Service)
Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site (Parks Canada)
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Contacts
Sarah Frey
Marketing Director
Yukon Arts Centre
867-393-7108
sarah.frey@yac.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca
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