Cannon and Buttercups: Day 4- Sketching on Henry Hill

Thursday, May 4, 2017

It was a bit breezy this afternoon on the terrace of the Visitor Center, but the view is so inspiring for any artist.  I am fortunate (as is everyone else here) to join sculptor Cynthia Rusnak who is the other Artist-in-Residence for these two weeks. She is creating a Bobwhite Quail from alabaster for her project.  It was so interesting to hear about the process she will use and how she sees the quail in the stone already.

The beautiful, solemn space on Henry Hill provides so many ideas to write about and draw, but today I chose this wise old multi-trunked Eastern Red Cedar whose actual age has not been determined, but most here agree it was probably here during the battle on July 21, 1861.  I couldn’t resist the furrowed bark and gnarled branches of this witness to battle and sorrow.

Looking out over this now serene space, I thought about how nature embraced, without judgement, those who never left here.  These green meadows, sprinkled with golden buttercups their final resting place.  So many living things perished that day.  But now this verdant spot is a reminder of the resilient power of nature.