Author. Artist.
Sometimes, in the throes of research, when one is least expecting it, comes a moment when a particular kind of light shines on a word or phrase, and in that moment one’s purpose becomes clear. One experiences an epiphany of sorts. Just such a moment […]
Last week, my husband, Clay, and I kayaked with friends on two historic rivers. On Monday, we paddled a stretch of the Potomac in Maryland, and on Wednesday, we paddled (and carried, due to low water) our boats down the Shenandoah. For our Potomac trip, […]
During my Artist-in-Residence time at the Manassas National Battlefield Park, I had every intention of writing and posting on this blog each day. But, that didn’t happen and though I missed some of those daily deadlines due to a creative struggle between writing and painting/drawing, I will retrospectively share some additional thoughts about my experience.
I loved sketching and painting outside at various locations in the park. It must be a chlorophyll thing, because I seem to gain my best perspective (physical, mental, AND emotional) when I am among green trees, grass, and flowers. Being outside clears my head and makes way for the creative energy to flow.
The Visitor Center provided a peaceful overlook of the battlefield. I was fortunate to spend a few afternoons there with the other Artist-in-Residence, Cincinnati sculptor Cynthia Rusnak. Cynthia is a 
lovely person who made my experience even nicer. We had conversations not only with each other, but with people from across the United States and other countries as we worked. Cynthia answered questions about the Bobwhite Quail she is creating from raspberry alabaster. This grassland bird is receiving much attention at the park as work continues to increase its population.
Cindy offered these thoughts on her time looking onto the battlefield from her outdoor workspace:
“The land is so gentle with rolling hills, expansive meadows and sculptural feces. It evokes a softness and peace that belies what happened here over 150 years ago. I found it extremely peaceful to be set up on the terrace, working with hammer and chisel on my piece of alabaster.”
The Artist-in-Residence program provides new and varied perspectives on the park. Each artist views the landscape with a unique vision and then translates that, using their chosen medium, into a piece of art that represents what they saw and felt. When artist and public meet through this process, all gain insight and understanding of the relationship between art, history, and nature.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 After a brief introduction to supplies on hand (including my favorite watercolor pencils) we dispersed a bit to find our own spot to reflect and record our impressions. The history of this place provides an interesting background for our journaling. Soldiers, […]
Sunday, September 20 Wow, that two weeks went by quickly. Today I leave Cabin 16 and Catoctin Mountain Park. This morning as I reflect on the last two weeks here, I remember the people, creatures, and landscape that made the experience so meaningful. […]
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
My husband Clay visited today. We hiked to Chimney Rock, a steady uphill and very rocky trail.
I added a couple of trees to my tree ID list – Sweet Birch and Loblolly Pine.
More outdoor artwork late afternoon.
Now, because I feel this Artist-in-Residence experience in the mountains has been a very enlightening one, I will now come clean about something, a confession of sorts.
As an environment educator, I have explained the intricacies and importance of food chains and food webs to hundreds of students. I always stress the significance of each species and that when one is taken out the entire system suffers. This often takes the form of yarn strung between students, the collapsing species dropping his yarn and sitting down. After writing earlier about identifying species of this and that, this morning I killed a BIG spider in my cabin. As interested as I am in creatures, I cannot even bring myself to look at the you-know-what section in my National Wildllife Association Guide to Insects and Spiders. Moths, beetles, even wasps (they enter the picture in a minute), but NO SPIDERS. After I took out the first guy, the official arachnid recon mission showed up. Two more that looked just like the victim. They looked threatening, so I introduced them to my flip flop. In a matter of murderous seconds, I had messed up the local food chain. However (and herein may come my redemption) earlier this week I did save two exotic-looking wasps. Neither seemed aggressive (obviously I recognize animal aggression) – the first crawling around near the cabin door and the other struggling to move on the kitchen floor with a clump of fuzz hanging on his leg. With both of these wee creatures, I used the time tested method of setting a plastic cup on top of the invader (wasp) and then sliding a piece of paper under the cup, allowing the good Samaritan (me) to transport and release outside. Wow, does writing so many words about this indicate that I may have been away from home a bit too long?
Let me move forward with something poetic.
In the Gloaming
Sunset comes early up on the mountain
Rays coax the late shift to begin early in this arboreal workplace.
Jays and woodpeckers clock out
Crickets and katydids announce their attendance
Moths slip in quietly.
Bees gather a little bedtime snack from the last goldenrod of the season.
Later
I had to do laundry tonight, having missed the last two nights. This resulted in the cabin looking like some kind of outdoor outfitter preschool, filled with crazy sock and underwear mobiles!
Time for sleep. No telling what adventures tomorrow may bring.
Monday, September 14, 2015 Absolutely glorious morning as the woods come to life. I have much I want to accomplish today. Worked at the picnic table – relaxing and wonderful, inspiring. Did a leaf painting for the Catoctin Forest Alliance journal (See photo of Alliance/Catoctin […]
This is the first in a new weekly series on journaling tips and ideas. Journals have always been a place to express one’s self. Journals bring to mind a notebook with thoughts and contemplations on a day or an event. But this papery place of […]
