Art in Action: a guided course in drawing nature under threat with artist John Springer & MountainTrue in Pisgah Forest, NC

Join MountainTrue and artist John Springer for a guided outing and drawing course in Pisgah Forest, NC. Reconnect with nature in a place currently under threat from the Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Management Plan. Selected artwork from the outing will be featured in a silent auction, raising funds for the Resilient Forest Program. Mark your calendar for the opening event- Endangered Impressions: a collection of drawings highlighting nature threatened by the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan.

Meet-up location: Pink Bed Picnic Shelter in Pisgah Forest, NC (coordinates: Latitude 35° 21′ 13.0000″ N Longitude 82° 46′ 40.0001″ W)

• From Asheville: Take the Blue Ridge Parkway south to the intersection with US 276. Turn south on 276 and continue for 4 miles. 
• From Brevard: Take US 276 north for about 11 miles. 
• Look for a large sign on the road indicating the picnic area entrance . 

Time: 10 am to 2 pm
This event will be rain or shine. As much as we love our furry friends, please no pets.

Please bring: Weather-appropriate layers, rain gear, water, snacks/lunch and your sense of wonder.
All art supplies will be provided to participants. Donations to help support MountainTrue and artist John Springer are welcome, but not required to participate.

Description about the drawing course:
What is it that draws people to sit along riverbanks? What is it about walking a forest path that awakens curiosity and contemplation? This exercise is geared towards noticing relationships in the visible world by searching for elements and instances in nature that strike you as the participant to pause and ponder. With some initial instruction, we will engage in a series of sketches from a motif. By drawing rapidly, we can put trust in our eyes and declutter our minds, igniting our fluid imaginations to reveal truthful renderings that are unique to us and the moment. By studying the light and dark relationships, we will begin to hone in on the essential elements and reveal the harmoniousness that brings you to your chosen place and aspect, consciously or unconsciously. This is an experience meant to lead towards discovering yourself in nature and the nature within you.

You will receive guided instruction from the artist before setting out on the Pink Beds Loop Hike to draw.

About the hike: This relatively flat loop hike (5.1 miles round trip) – which features a shortcut option – is all about water. You’ll see rare mountain bogs, including glimpses of some rare and endangered species of plants if you’re lucky. You’ll pass through a forest in transition, as beavers have dammed the South Fork Mills River to form their ponds, which are drowning out the trees. You’ll also find crystal clear brooks, wildlife meadows, scenic fern-filled woods, and an optional waterfall. More info here.

About the artist (John Springer)
John Springer (b. 1990, Columbus, GA) is an American artist who lives in Aix-en-Provence, France. By observing particular patterns within nature John seeks to render visually through painting and drawing the universal truths of the human-environment relationship. John’s work emerges at the confluence of nature and culture and it is in this commingling where he sees potential harmonies that can give meaning to our existence. By knowing ourselves and our place in nature John believes each of us can live more fully, more cohesively and more sustainably in the changing modern world.

Why this area? 

Want more information about the art show and silent auction? Click here.

Photo credit: John Springer