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.
You're Invited to the Closing Reception for "Journey to the Rhizosphere"
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Live happily, you're worth it. Come to the Exhibit Closing Reception: Saturday, 4/26! "Journey to the Rhizosphere" has been going strong since April 1st at the Harris Center for Conservation Education; staff say visitors of all ages have been loving it! Join us for the closing reception on Saturday, April 26th, from 3:00 - 5:00 PM for a drop-in, sensory-filled celebration of soil life, art, and community. Here’s what’s in store:
Come early! At 1:30 PM, enjoy a guided walk on the Harris Center’s beautiful trails — or simply explore the grounds of this historic home converted into a green building and environmental education hub. Huge thanks to all the imaginative collaborators, from designer and baker Victoria Weinreb Dalis to singer Lori Zuroff, who submitted the first imaginary microbe drawing! And to so many of you who helped bring this show to life. Special shout-out to the Harris Center for protecting 27,000+ acres in the Monadnock Region and inspiring deep connections with the outdoors through education, research, and conservation. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering it, come explore the magic of the rhizosphere and the Harris Center with us! Get Your Hands Dirty Spring is the perfect time to get to know your soil. Whether you’re planting a garden or hiking through the woods, I hope this exhibit inspires your curiosity and deepens your connection to the mysterious, vital relationships between soil, plants, and human well-being. We are all connected! Local Farmers Work With the Land A few years ago, I worked several hours each week during the summer at Upswing Farm in Pepperell, MA. I gained a whole new appreciation for farmers, the food they grow, and the land they cultivate. Lindsay Katkowski (left), the wash-pack manager at Upswing says, “Farming is hard, exhausting work but I love the people I work with; they're the best part of my job!" Joelle Stevens (right) studied fiber arts at Mass College of Art, but she turned her artwork into her hobby and her gardening hobby into her profession. Now she's the full-time assistant harvest manager at Upswing and says, “I love working outside with my hands and being in nature!” The farm's original soil is stony, but Kevin and Brittany Overshiner, the husband and wife pair that owns the farm, continually enhance it with layers of organic compost and green cover crops. Joelle notes, “They are so knowledgeable, and the way they respect and treat the land is really inspiring.” Connecting Through Collaborative Art When I put out the call for drawings of real or imaginary microbes, you all responded with gusto! For me, making art is mostly a quiet, solo endeavor, so it was refreshing to collaborate with those who contributed all those delightful renderings of micro-critters! Below is a small sample of drawings. “Water is life, soil is life….” — The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer Stay in touch with me on Instagram and LinkedIn! 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 :-) |
Susan Adele Edwards
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. Thoreau’s Journals: Discovering Nature Through Drawing "Birch Bark"Illustration by Susan Edwards 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...
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...