April Earth Art At Boxerwood

April Earth Arts events at Boxerwood

Today is the start of April Earth Arts at Boxerwood Nature Center – a month-long celebration of visual and performing arts, all nature-inspired.  The festival is co-presented by Boxerwood and Fine Arts In Rockbridge (FAIR). Events are free and open to the public for viewing and participation.

Highlights on the Earth Art calendar include Plein Air painting on April 11,  WildShots (wildlife photography instruction) with the Rockbridge Camera Club on April 19, a preview of Summer FAIR arts camp activities followed by an outdoor concert featuring Sarah Jane McDonald on April 24, and an afternoon of Family Art Adventures (all ages) on April 26. The “adventures” will run the gamut from nature journaling with Phyllis Fevrier to tai chi with Karen Price.

An Earth Art tent sale will also be held on April 26 from 4-6pm, showcasing work produced at Boxerwood throughout the month. 

Solo installations are already in the works at the nature center, including a site-specific creation by found-artist Devan Malore, life-size figures of children by stick-sculptor Jay Sullivan, and a Field Labyrinth constructed by Boxerwood horticulturalist Faith Vosburgh and volunteers from the Rockbridge Unitarian-Universalist Church. Members of the W&L Student Arts League will spend the last week of April painting a dozen garden benches in situ.

The decision to hold a festival came about as Boxerwood board members and staff considered plans for observing Earth Day – April 22 – when citizens around the world demonstrate their commitment to protecting the natural environment of our planet.

 “The thing is, every day is Earth Day at Boxerwood,” notes Susan Meister, the fiber artist and Board member coordinating the event. “Environmental education and stewardship are what we do.  So we decided to put a new spin on Earth Day – to make it an entire month, and invite community artists to come be inspired in the place that inspires us.”

A descriptive calendar of events will be posted and continually updated on the Boxerwood website (www.boxerwood.org) and Boxerwood Facebook page. Artists interested in offering additional programs or performances at Boxerwood during April should call Susan Meister at 463-3562.