Return of the Condor, Stained Glass, 18” X 36”, by Linda Bjornson can be seen in the Visitor’s Center, Pinnacles National Monument

This image bas used for the National Parks Service Condor Release Announcement, September, 2009

In the fall of 2008, I was chosen to be the Pinnacles National Monument's first Artist in Residence. The park wanted to institute this program, in part to celebrate the Pinnacle's Centennial. It seems fitting that the first time I have ever seen a condor in the wild was during my stay at the park. It's true , what the bird books say, at first you might mistake them for a small airplane! It is an honor for me to have a stained glass window of mine in a National Park.
I hope that you enjoy " Return of the Condor". Linda Bjornson


PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT
Return Of The Condor

A stained glass depiction of a condor in flight currently graces the park’s visitor center – a graphic artistic representation of the park’s successes in returning condors to the California skies.

The stained glass piece was created by Linda Bjornson, Pinnacles’ first artist in residence. Building on the efforts of Ansel Adams, George Masa, Chiura Obata, and others, Bjornson upholds the tradition of artists who use their creative talents to foster inspiration, appreciation, and stewardship of the nation’s public lands.

Entitled Return of the Condor, this piece artistically represents the park’s efforts in the condor recovery program that has been underway at Pinnacles for the past six years. By restoring condors to their rightful place in the skies above Pinnacles, staff are creating opportunities for visitors to make meaningful and lasting connections with the park. 

Return of the Condor was revealed at last year’s condor release and is currently on display in the Pinnacles Visitor Center on the east side of the park.

Two of Pinnacles' best ideas – its involvement in the California condor recovery program and the creation of an artist in residence program – unite this month with a public condor release scheduled on Saturday, September 26th, and another artist residency starting on September 28th.    

The public has been invited to come to the park for a day of service, education, and fun as two California condors are released into the wild to celebrate National Public Lands Day  next Saturday. The day will conclude with a special showing of Ken Burns’ documentary, This is America, at 8 p.m. in the campground amphitheater.  

For more information about the condor release, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/pinn/naturescience/release.htm

[Home] [Meet Linda] [Artist in Residence] [Clear Glass] [Overlay] [Full Color] [Bevels] [Clear w Color] [Fused]