After recently closing the show I curated in Port Townsend, Washington titled “If I Had Wings” I had the pleasure of returning some of the unsold work to one of the artists, Chris Maynard, in Olympia, Washington. His home and studio are out in the country, a fitting location for an artist who makes art from bird feathers. His website, featherfolio.com, is a treasure trove of images, videos and blogs about his life and his process. Here is an example of his work:
“Heron in the Koi Pond” by Chris Maynard
In a video he has posted on his website he talks about the healing quality of nature. He has stopped listening to the news and instead focuses his time and energy towards observing what is happening in the natural world and taking solace in being in its presence. He said he is much happier and calmer now that he looks to the heavens instead of at his news feed.
This really resonated with me. I live in the country on 5 acres at the end of a dead end road, where cars don’t drive by and birds sing. I also find solace in living where I live, and think perhaps taking a news vacation is a good idea. When my husband and I go camping and don‘t have access to the news for a week or two I always come home realizing that nothing has changed, the news is all the same, and I have been so at peace during my camping trip being in nature and having no idea what is happening in the world.
So I leave you with this: instead of opening your news feed take a walk in a park, or a hike in the mountains or sit staring at the water at the beach or a lake. Listen to the birds, watch their flights, see them investigating the undergrowth or sitting on a branch. I guarantee you you will feel the peace of their presence, the healing quality of nature.
