Live happily, you're worth it. Thoreau’s Journals: Discovering Nature Through Drawing
An invitation to lead a drawing class at Thoreau Farm’s upcoming Lichen Day (April 6) aroused my curiosity: “Did Henry David Thoreau sketch?” Indeed, he did! About 13 years into his journal writing, he began regularly illustrating his entries with pencil drawings. It’s likely he used pencils crafted in his family’s own factory, carrying them on his daily explorations. Grab your favorite pencil and join me as I offer an hour of hands-on instruction in a free class called “Journal Drawing from Nature: The Art of Observation through Drawing,” on Sunday, April 6, from 3:00 - 4:00 PM at the Thoreau Farm in Concord, MA. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just love to doodle, you’re welcome to attend! All you need to bring is your favorite pencil, eraser, paper, and a small stone, stick, or twig that has a lichen on it! The session will hone your visual observation skills. For a complete schedule of Lichen Day events, including a lichen walk and talk with Lichenpedia author Kay Hurley, please visit the Thoreau Farm website. In the meantime, you may like to explore the rich, searchable archive of Thoreau’s journal sketches online that are a testament to his dedication to both word and image. You’re Invited! Exhibit Reception on April 26th The “Journey to The Rhizosphere” art exhibit will be on display at the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, NH, throughout April. This collaborative project explores the fascinating world of plant root and microbial interactions. Please join me at the closing reception on Saturday, April 26th, from 3:00 -5:00 PM! Before or after the event you can explore the beautiful trails surrounding the center; I’ll be doing that! It’s been an incredible journey diving into the latest rhizosphere research, and I can’t wait to share it with you. I’m immensely grateful to environmentalist and writer Elizabeth Ainsley Campbell for her invaluable guidance in navigating this complex subject and crafting the exhibition’s guiding text. Also, a huge thank you to everyone who contributed their imaginative drawings of soil bacteria and fungi! Music For the Rhizosphere
We’re delighted to announce that composers and multi-instrumentalists Cosmo Sheldrake and Ben Cosgrove have graciously contributed some of their recordings for the “Journey to the Rhizosphere” exhibit! Sheldrake’s music features subterranean sounds he recorded with microphones buried in the soil along with the bioelectrical activity of fungi recorded with electrodes. Cosgrove is contributing “Slope,” which he recorded on a felted upright piano. Stay in touch with me on my Instagram and LinkedIn social channels! Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might like it. Thanks for reading! All the best, If you like this email, please tell your friends to subscribe to this irregular publication :-) |
I am an artist and documentarian working in pencil, pastel, and film to convey my love of people and the planet. Please subscribe to my irregular email.
Live happily, you're worth it. The Carrot Underground, by Susan A. Edwards "All flourishing is mutual."— from The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, 2024. Did you know that beneath our feet a mutual flourishing is happening between soil microorganisms and plant roots? A plant’s roots and the surrounding few millimeters of soil — the rhizosphere — are teeming with industrious life you can’t see. Millions of microorganisms, mostly bacteria and...
Live happily, you're worth it. "Basking in the Moonlight" by Susan A. Edwards Sowing Seeds for a New Exhibit With the moon casting long purple shadows on crystalline snow and the inky sky flecked with stars, this is a time of year I cherish — a time to rejuvenate, create art and, this winter, curate my next exhibit, "Journey to the Rhizosphere." The exhibit is slated for April this year at the Harris Center for Conservation Education. My collaborative, multi-sensory exhibit will invite people...
Live happily, you're worth it. Happy Spring! Attention Bibliophiles and Nature Lovers!Now you can buy Lichenpedia: A Compendium of Lichen Lore I'm delighted to announce that the book Lichenpedia: A Compendium of Lichen Lore, will be available on May 28! Written by Kay Hurley and illustrated by me, this book combines botanical history, science and art to explain the important and often overlooked role of lichens. It’s an entertaining and educational treasure, available in hardcover (with a...