WILDERNESS -- Here's a wild opportunity for professional artists looking for immersion in a canyonland wilderness landscape:

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Idaho will host two week-long Artists-in-Residence, one for the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness and the other for the Owyhee River Wilderness.

Southwestern Idaho features some unique and dramatic landscapes, including winding rivers, deep canyons and vast areas of sagebrush steppe habitat, all of which can provide inspiration to an artist with an eye for color, shape and shadow. 

Applications for the positions are due in May.

Read on for the details from BLM:

“The BLM’s Artist-in-Residence program promotes awareness through art of the exceptional natural and cultural treasures protected by the National Landscape Conservation System,” said BLM Acting Idaho State Director Tim Murphy.  “The program is founded on the belief that artists look closely at the way the world works, notice things that others may have missed, challenge ideas, experiment and create new opportunities to look at the world.”

The BLM is seeking applicants now.  The deadline for applying for the Bruneau-Jarbidge Artist-in-Residence is May 5, 2014.  The Owyhee River Wilderness residency deadline is August 22, 2014.  The Bruneau-Jarbidge residency is scheduled for May 19-23 or May 27-June 1, and the Owyhee residency is scheduled for September 20-27.  Both residencies offer uninterrupted time for the artists to pursue their work.  The program is open to all professional artists over 18 years of age who are United States citizens and who apply within the deadline period. 

All disciplines of artists will be considered, including photographers, painters, sculptures, videographers, writers, poets, musicians and composers.  Final selections are based on the merit and professionalism of the artist and the proposal presented in the application.  Selected works from the artists will be showcased to the public in a venue to be announced and in future BLM exhibits and publications.

The Bruneau-Jarbidge River System flows north from the mountains of northern Nevada through the beautiful basalt and rhyolite canyons of the Owyhee Uplands to the Snake River in southern Idaho.  Nearly 40 floatable miles of the Bruneau River are designated as wild and scenic.  The residency features an opportunity for the artist to take a 3- to 5-day float trip with BLM Boise District wilderness rangers and biologists.

The Owyhee River Canyon consists of steep, rhyolite walls ranging in height from 250 feet to over 1,000 feet near the Oregon border.  The west end of the river below the confluence with the South Fork Owyhee River is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Owyhee.”  The residency offers the artist the opportunity to take a guided backpack trips and hikes in two or three of the six Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness Areas.

Learn more about the program and access the application form.