Summer Events

Artist Talk and Women's Camp

The early spring butterflies have all flown off and the milkweed is growing back to be ready for new caterpillars later in August. The green leaves of new sunflowers are coming up as well as a variety of volunteer plants from the compost.

As we near the first days of summer, I have upcoming summer events to share:

July 6-8 I will be artist-in-residence for Women’s Camp at Camp Washington in Connecticut.

Our theme will be Book of Hours with lots of opportunities for community, nature, and creativity. I am excited to collaborate with Rev. Tuesday Rupp on this program.

Book of Hours accordion books.

A book of hours is a traditional prayer book used for pause and prayer throughout the day. Creating our own with collage allows us to reflect on ways awareness of light, color, and other observations of the natural world can nurture restorative attention throughout our days.

Collage table with many hands at work.

The image below is from my Mother Trees series and relates well to the awareness we cultivate through pauses and attention to the world around us.

On Thursday, August 20, I will have an artist talk and reception at Shirlington Library to share my Mother Trees series that is on display throughout the summer.

Learn more about the event and register on the library website. The exhibit is up just inside the entrance to Shirlington Library through the month of August. Visit the Shirlington Library website for their hours.

The title for this series, “Mother Trees” is inspired by ecologist, Suzanne Simard, who researches connections between trees in the forest and describes the mother trees as the oldest and most connected, the ones who nurture others. The voices I celebrate are those that have been most influential in my own journey of finding solace and sanctuary in nature. I hope these voices will offer moments of peace and pause to viewers as they have for me.

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It’s been a full few weeks here with birthday celebrations, gathering with family and friends and a climbing and hiking adventure. Amidst all that, I’ve sent out my first query letter, beginning the process of seeking a publisher for my book.

I would love to hear where you are finding creativity in this season too.

Thank you for all who have written and shared your thoughts with me from my creative questions newsletter in April. I continue to welcome additional thoughts and reflections. You can find the questions here.

And thank you for reading, sharing, and being part of creative community through this newsletter.

With a grateful heart,

Kathryn

My favorite spot on my recent climbing and hiking trip!

Sharing my writing helps me grow this community and conversation, thank you for your support!