This Land Is Your Land

Happy New Year, dear readers! It’s been awhile. I hope you are safe and well in these turbulent times. I’ve been finding that walks, even short ones, re-calibrate my jangled nerves. What about you?

Nature is the best medicine we’ve got. I recently learned that the Peaks Island Land Preserve has 12 miles of trails on the little Rock I call home. My partner is on the board of this quiet little non-profit org that protects 20% of the island from development, no small thing along Maine’s shores. My family and I roamed and rambled about on New Year’s Day, getting happily swallowed by forest, along paths, over trickling brooks, and through dense woods.

There are about sixteen volunteer stewards who keep an eye on the parcels, checking on invasive plants along trails, if trees are down, assessing fire danger, picking up trash, and simply caring for the land. How fortunate we are that on Peaks, elsewhere in Maine, and beyond there are many open spaces for us!

We noticed a structure fit for a troll.

Could this be the troll?

We found great moss mounds.

Plenty of dead trees are doing great service to the forest ecosystem.

Our sharp eyed daughter spied some cool lichen.

Even a forest bather needs a rest now and then.

We came across an incognito birdhouse.

Daisy spied a hidden treasure that turned out to be a geocache!

We’ve been letterboxers in the past, so this was a fun discovery.

Coming upon this perfect crossing of fallen trees was THE coolest thing.

As we parted the veil of evergreens and returned to the road, I felt beyond blessed.

If you’ve ever been to Central Park, check out this informative PBS film about Frederick Law Olmsted. Marvel at all the ingenuity, foresight, and tenacity necessary to set aside public spaces.

In October, Daisy and I visited the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, another jewel of protected land that serves as a rich resource for scientific research.

There are trails, science centers, and breathtaking vistas to the sea. And historical structures like this water tower.

All of this is within a few miles of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge which has also provided inspiration for me in the past.

Have you been to the Audubon’s Gisland Farm? At this 65 acre sanctuary the trails have been widened for proper social distancing, with river views and waving grasses made for you and me.

I find the marsh spaces deeply moving.

On a road trip this fall, we visited the magnificent Storm King, an outdoor center for contemporary sculpture north of New York City. We received a fantastic tour from Daisy’s MICA roommate, Ellie MacInnes.

We had the most stellar day strolling among brilliant fall colors and striking sculptures. I am always drawn to the red ones. And this was the tallest!

The red trees were a stunning backdrop for Martha Tuttle‘s A stone that thinks of Enceladus, in which she created glass stones, noting that “All day long a little bit of shine from Enceladus makes its way across space to reflect upon us and all day long we are shining back.” (Enceladus is an icy moon of Saturn.)

I was excited to see this epic work by Ursula Von Rydingsvard. If you like fascinating documentaries about artists, see this one.

Here’s another work by an artist I admire: Maine native Louise Nevelson.

This one rises from the very land, Maya Lin’s Wavefield.

You climb up a big hill to see it, and the distant mountains fill you with bliss as you catch your breath.

I found a parallel of forms in Louise Bourgeois’ Eyes which was perhaps my favorite of all. Seeing is believing.

Works by Alexander Calder, Andy Goldsworthy, Isamu Noguchi were spectaular. We should have allowed for days on end to take it all in.

I drew this upon return to Maine, my memory still vivid of those red trees and stark steel beings.

On the last day of 2020, we ventured across the sea to Forest, a playful installation by Maine artist Pamela Moulton at Speedwell Projects in Portland. What a way to end the year! It was a balm for our starved senses to become part of the fiber environment.

I made a sketch with collage and objects inspired by Pamela’s show. This was my entry for the prompt “greenhouse” in They Draw and Garden’s art challenge of 21 Days of Fresh Flowers on Instagram.

As 2021 unfolds, may we be uplifted by walks, fresh air, new adventures, art, and good health. Thanks for reading!