by Karen Jean Smith, Art Gallery Coordinator
Connecting communities and nature in wisdom and wonder
Baltimore Woods Nature Center is a leader in facilitating opportunities for people to build personal connections to nature. Through engaging experiences and place-based exploration, we envision communities united in stewardship and love of the natural world.
Nature inspires art, and art celebrates nature. At Baltimore Woods Nature Center (BWNC) in Marcellus, the creation and appreciation of art fulfills our mission to connect people to nature through wisdom and wonder. Indeed, when visitors enter the John A. Weeks Interpretive Center at Baltimore Woods, they are immediately greeted by large colorful murals of the forest and other habitats. These paintings, created by the Interpretive Center’s namesake, set the tone for a space where art and nature have gone hand in hand from the beginning.
The heart of the building is the Program Room where visitors can find the Weeks Art Gallery and nature displays. Bi-monthly art exhibits by professional artists and hobbyists are showcased September through April, with a member-only exhibit in November and December. These exhibits provide opportunities for guests to enjoy a variety of artistic interpretations of nature in Upstate New York and perhaps be reminded of a special place or time. Often, visitors will learn something new about flora and fauna or a new-to-them place to experience the beauty of nature. Each exhibit begins with a reception, a casual social affair that often brings newcomers to Baltimore Woods. Educational games such as nature bingo are part of the art gallery experience for visitors, especially children, when they align with the theme of the exhibit. All of the artwork is for sale, so admirers may choose to take nature art home to enjoy.
Children’s artwork is displayed on the walls of the art gallery each May. The reception includes a ceremony to celebrate the nature-related artistic endeavors of students from kindergarten through 12th grade from local school districts. Family members and art educators are among the enthusiastic attendees who fill the room to cheer on their young artists and view the vibrant display.
Visitors to Baltimore Woods Nature Center this summer will discover that the staff also participates in a gallery show. Both full and part time employees, including environmental educators and summer camp counselors, exhibit favorite nature moments that they have photographed. Accompanied by text, these images serve to delight, educate and build community among the staff, campers, their families and other visitors.
While the exhibits in the art gallery are temporary, permanent artwork is also on display. Large paintings of the four seasons in the forest by Daniel Shay are displayed one at a time, according to the time of year. “Beyond the Bend,” a pastel painting gifted to BWNC by local artist Wendy Harris, adorns a wall. A wreath-themed quilt by a group of thirteen fiber artists hangs prominently in the Program Room. A number of realistic porcelain bird sculptures from the Boehm collection are available to see as well.
Not only is art displayed at BWNC, it is also created here. The preserve is an ideal place for artists to come and find new ideas for their work. Like John Weeks, artists may be inspired by the woods, pond, brook, fields, plant and animal life. Photographers can often be seen along the hiking paths, camera in hand, searching for that elusive pileated woodpecker or intriguing fungus array. With easy access, benches along the trails and no entry fee, it is a welcoming space to sit and sketch, set up an easel or simply gather creative thoughts.
For those desiring a guided art experience or even a bit of instruction, activities and workshops are available throughout the year for individuals, local schools and homeschool groups. For example, educational field trip programs at BWNC may include nature journaling, a blend of drawing and writing. Nature camp, held in the summer and on many school holidays, often has an art component.
Drawing and painting workshops for adults and children, both out on the preserve and inside the Interpretive Center, are conducted by environmental educators including artist Anna Stunkel. Development of art skills and nature education happen simultaneously when participants study a leaf, a landscape or one of the animal mounts on display.
Because art is a way for many humans to process their knowledge and emotions, it is an especially important outlet as our planet changes. Programs like Stunkel’s “Illustrating Climate Change” combine science, the humanities and visual art for an interdisciplinary approach that includes how the participants feel. In this program, information was provided about climate change with a focus on helping the planet, and participants were then prompted to write, draw or paint their responses.
Joy is an important byproduct of the creative process that connects people to nature. An informal family program offered by Environmental Educator Katie McLaughlin encourages adults and youngsters to have fun outside using found materials. This past fall, participants used leaves, sticks and natural clay to make imaginative faces on the tree trunks, thereby sparking laughter in the woods.
Informal hands-on creative experiences are often available to visitors in the Program Room. When Wendy Harris gifted BWNC with one of her paintings of a natural area, it was prominently displayed on the gallery wall along with colored pencils and paper on a nearby table. With this as inspiration, adults and children were encouraged to create their own nature-themed drawings. Another example would be Stonework Play, a method for inspiring creativity and storytelling through nature, developed by author and artist Diana Suskind. Materials, including stones in a variety of sizes and colors, were offered for experimentation.
The future promises to bring even more opportunities for people to connect to nature through art at BWNC. Come and see what we have to offer! Descriptions of our programs and art gallery offerings can be found at baltimorewoods.org.
The preserve is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year. The Weeks Art Gallery is available to view whenever the Interpretive Center is open to the public: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Please call 315-673-1350 to be sure that the program room will be open when you visit.
