Using the literary device of foreshadowing, I mentioned having two main muses for my work-my love of water, explained in the last newsletter, and in this newsletter, I will focus on my love of the woods.
I had an idyllic childhood spent roaming 52 acres of woods, fields, and creeks. The woodland was mysterious to me throughout every season. During the hot days of summer we would take family walks through the woods, going out with my Dad as he harvested firewood for our long winters. Our woodland was at the top of a long, dry climb up a steep hill for my young legs. The woodland was edged by a stand of tall pines and when we would reach that point, the sudden cool relief from the beating sun in the field was magically wonderful. I can still feel it in my mind. The woodland was deep, dark and cool.
The deeper woods behind the pines contained hardwood acres. Ashes, maples, tulip poplars, oaks and other nut trees of various sorts all grew straight and strong on the hill high above the Bemus Creek. Light danced through their canopies and splashed on our faces when we looked up through the branches catching glimpses of the sky and sun peeking through. It was cool, quiet, fertile, and full of wonder for me. I imagined how the first settlers to the area found this land very much like this. I would pretend I was one of them walking through and making my own trail. I learned the plants that grew there and grew to recognize the trees by their different barks. We even had some less common trees like ironwood with its sinuous dense dark gray bark texture and shagbark hickories that were covered with a rough and loose brown bark texture.
All of these things were permeating my mind and falling together into a feeling that being in the deep woods always gives me. I have wandered all over the United States, camping in various regions. Everywhere there are woodlands the feeling is there, but there is something about the eastern woodlands has always moved me just a little more. It’s the smell, the regional birds singing, the plant life, the fungi, the trees, the paths created by wildlife, deer bounding away, and the woods soil all coming together in my brain and residing in my soul. Footprints left by the native inhabitants of the animal kingdom in the more wet areas, evidence of birds in random feathers and an occasional fallen nest or egg fragment, bones left behind by animals that had perished all spoke to me. Flowers emerging in the spring were sources of beauty and joy.
So much to love and so much to be inspired by. So, I still turn to those experiences and feelings in my current work after all of these years. I still “forest bathe” whenever the opportunity presents itself and I draw directly on clay, paper, canvas, and block printing tiles to share this deep love and joy that the woods bring to me through my work.
It is no surprise to me that we have come to know the importance of nature and woods walking to our health.
What to see and do in Chautauqua County:
Chautauqua Institution
Portage Hill Art Gallery is blessed to be just a few short minutes drive outside of the main gate of The Chautauqua Institution which is the largest visitor attraction in the area; drawing more than 100,000 people who visit each year.
Founded in 1874 as a teaching camp for Sunday-school teachers, it has operated every summer since and has expanded to offer arts, education, religion and music.
In 1973 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the majority of the property was designated as a National Historic Monument in 1989.
Visitors can plan to visit for an event, day, week, month or the entire nine week season where they can take part in multiple programs offered each day. Beautiful parks, homes, gardens and architecture are in abundance on the 2,070 acre grounds. Walking or biking the quaint roadways is an attraction in itself. The main daily activity outline incudes devotional services, morning lectures, afternoon programming followed by evening entertainment.
Throughout each day there are culturally rich and diverse classes offered in music, art, dance, drama and general topics. Many large events take place throughout the season ranging from art shows, nationally and internationally known concerts, religious events, plays, the Chautauqua Ballet Company, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, health and wellness, literary events, and so much more!
Children are not forgotten at Chautauqua! A pioneering developmental Children's School is offered each day for preschool aged children which incorporates other Chautauqua programs in music, drama, arts and recreation. As children get older the Boys and Girls Club is one of the oldest day camps in the United States offering activities such as volleyball, sailing, swimming, field games and the arts.
The Chautauqua Institution is truly a place for the entire family to relax or to be busy and active. It is a gated community and passes are necessary during the nine week season with the exception of Sundays when the gates are open to the public. For more information on purchasing gate passes, planning a visit or upcoming events at The Chautauqua Institution visit their website at www.chq.org