Katmai Art Show

Flyer by Rylee

    Covid precautions meant that most of the Katmai traditions had to be skipped this year. We'd had a Fourth of July party outside, but had almost immediately been read the riot act about large gatherings. Fancy First Fridays (when everyone who is off duty gets all dolled up and hangs out on the first Friday of each month) were still sort of happening, though not on the usual scale, and Cheryl and I had missed almost all of them. Katmai Halloween fell on a day during the park shutdown, so anyone who was IN the park was pretty much under house arrest in their cabins. It had been a rather depressing year for any park employee who thrived in social settings. 

    To lift spirits, LE Mike decided we should have an art show. Most everyone's first reaction was to protest their total lack of artistic abilities. Aside from our two resident artists (Rylee, and Maintenance Nick), most of us were fairly hopeless. Stick figures stretched the limits of our abilities. Mike decided this just made it better. 

    

    Since we couldn't gather inside, it was hosted at the VRAA section of employee housing, taped up in windows, so everyone could stay outside, and ostensibly socially distance. Judging by the pictures, we weren't very good at that last bit. Turns out we got a little distracted looking in the windows. To be fair, we all lived and worked in very close quarters, so it's likely any Covid-related damage was already done. 

    Half the fun was standing around acting pretentious, trying to outdo each other in our terrible impressions of art critics at a museum. 

Here Cheryl says something along the lines of "Yes, the shading and texture in this particular piece are evocative of early Rembrandt..." in an overly exaggerated posh accent. "Yes, yes, indubitably" agrees Rylee, nodding and pretending to sip wine.

Several actual paintings, as well as some doodles on napkins, and some cross stitches. The highlight of my evening was hearing Ranger Barbara, someone I hold in the highest respect as the consummate professional ranger, reading out in a deadpan voice as though she were actually considering it as a piece of art "Hmmm... 'Don't be a d*ck.'" 

 

Derby, on the maintenance crew, apparently makes these creepy little cutouts and gifts them to people. He insists that he doesn't make them, that they just appear. Cheryl's new goal is to obtain one. I now have nightmares about finding one of these in our cabin unexpectedly. 

LE Cathy's kids (ages 6ish and 12ish, I think) even got in on it, submitting their own pieces, though they weren't there for the festivities.

    A much needed bit of lighthearted silliness and camaraderie after the isolation, anxiety, and distress of the park shutdown. Kudos, Mike.