GARRISON – Local artist Karen Bakke is being hosted by Fort Stevenson State Park this week. This is a part of a collaboration between the North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department and the North Dakota Council on the Arts, in the Artist in Residency program.

Bakke is an award-winning artist with a studio in Fargo. Her 42-year art career has included a wide array of art projects which include public and private murals and commissioned studio works on canvas in oil, acrylic and watercolor. She is most often recognized for her execution of the “eyes” in animal and human portraits, which she gives a great deal of attention.

Her art “directly reflects her personality, an obsession of adventure, spontaneity, discipline and always striving to improve.” She is “drawn to the exploration and unpredictability of outdoor painting.” Bakke is represented by Dakota Fine Art of Fargo, Red Door Art Gallery of Wahpeton, Underbrush Galleries of Fargo and Western Edge Art & Book of Medora. Her work can also be found at KarenBakkeArt.com.

On Friday, Bakke will be at the Fort Stevenson State Park deTrobriand Lodge at 7 p.m. as she introduces her goals in art along with a small display of her finished works, and she will share a recap of her week-long experience at the park. On Saturday, Bakke will be at the deTrobriand Lodge from 1-3 p.m. as she gears this presentation for fun and participant involvement learning observation skills and enhancing the creative process including a follow-along with project to take home.

All ages and skills are welcome. The events are free of charge in accordance with a state park daily or annual pass.

The Artist in Residency Program is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The mission of North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department is to offer a diversity of recreation opportunities and sustainably manage resources.