The Artist Ambassador serves as a creative bridge between the park and its visitors. By facilitating hands-on workshops and leading art-focused park tours, the Ambassador invites visitors to see the landscape through an artistic perspective. This role aims to foster an inclusive arts presence, ensuring that creative opportunities are welcoming to all skill levels and backgrounds.

“The Artist Ambassador invites visitors to see this ancient landscape through a creative lens,” said Joan Hawley, President of the Friends of the Porkies. “By fostering these connections, we aren’t just celebrating art; we’re inspiring a deeper sense of stewardship for the natural world.”

Two individuals have been selected as the inaugural Artist Ambassadors: Jake Ring, a photographer and explorer from Ironwood, Mich., and Caroline Meehean, an artist from central Wisconsin. Meehean is a practicing artist and an active member of the Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Steering Committee. Ring is a published photographer and videographer working on his next book, “The Comprehensive Porcupine Mountains Waterfall Book.” Together, they will help shape the program’s vision, promoting the park as a source of inspiration and a welcoming space for creative exploration.

This pilot program builds upon the Friends’ long-standing commitment to cultural programming. The organization already manages the prestigious Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence program, which offers creators a remote cabin stay to draw inspiration from 60,000 acres of old-growth forest. Additionally, the Friends host the annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival, an immensely popular signature event bringing a wide variety of musical performances to an outdoor stage located at the ski hill chalet at the mountain’s base.

Caroline Meehean, watercolor artist who specializes in natural depictions, is one of the first Artist Ambassadors for the Porkies. (Courtesy photo)

Central to the park’s creative heartbeat is the Folk School. Located within the park, the school provides a space where heritage skills–from woodworking to fiber arts–are preserved and shared. Both Meehean’s and Ring’s work will harmonize with these existing programs to ensure the park remains a premier destination for both environmental and cultural exploration.

Individual artists and artist groups interested in developing or participating in workshops, creative programs, inspirational park tours, or other arts-related activities are encouraged to connect directly with Caroline Meehean at carolinemeehean.com or Jake Ring at ringoproductions.com, or contact the Friends of the Porcupine Mountains at friendsofporkies@gmail.com.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park — which includes the famous Lake of the Clouds — is Michigan’s largest state park, encompassing nearly 60,000 acres of old-growth forest, waterfalls, It provides year-round opportunities for hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, skiing and other outdoor recreation while preserving one of the Midwest’s most significant wilderness landscapes.

The Friends of the Porcupine Mountains is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the park. Through advocacy, education, and diverse programming, the Friends group works to preserve the park’s pristine character while enhancing the experience for all visitors.

Jake Ring, photograpehr from Ironwood, is one of the first Artist Ambassadors for the Porkies. (Courtesy photo)