Emily Drew Yates

ALPENA ­– The Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary board is pleased to announce the selection of Emily Drew Yates of Elkville, Ill. as the 2022 Artist-in-Residence. Yates’ residency will be Aug. 11 to 25.

During her residency, she will be staying as a guest, hosted by the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary Board, in a riverfront condominiu. During her time in Alpena, Yates plans to conduct a workshop where she will instruct the public about her lyrical, wabi-sabi painting technique and encourage participants to explore this technique.

A native of Illinois, Yates had a 20-year career as an ecologist and seed conservationist, and this background shows up in her artistic creations.

Yates describes herself as a “Painter and maker of colorful, joyous artworks in acrylic and watercolor ­– uplifting paintings and maps celebrating the magic and mystery of the natural world, botanicals and reverence for the healing power of the great outdoors, inspiring enjoyment of nature and life.”

To learn more about Yates, visit her artist website at www.emilydrewyates.com. You can learn more about the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary and the River Center at thunderbayrivercenter.org/alpena-wildlife-sanctuary.