As I listened to an ecologically sensitive farmer and paper maker and photographer speak about her ideas on materiality and use, I understood light and shadows in new ways. As I picked up highway trash with her, I learned that people need to stop drinking and driving—and stop littering glass, plastics, and glass bottles; they don’t decompose and snowplows push them into the Earth—adopt a highway for a day, or even for a few hours, and you will know what I mean! The waste is infuriating. But as I joined my fellow art, environment, and sustainability adventure buddy collecting highway garbage, I learned. As I joined her on beautiful journeys through the Colorado mountains, I learned. I can’t wait for the world to see the incredible, delicate, protest pieces she created from trash! And her photography is purposeful and inspired. Her work will challenge our concept of “views,” and it was a pleasure working with her.
As a first-time novelist, I was thankful to have the time and space to deepen the first section of my book. I have tremendous gratitude for Mitchell Oliver who introduced me to area farmers and foodies working to ensure equitable food security for Coloradans. I was fortunate enough to join a cherry glean and proudly plucked almost twelve pounds of cherries and labeled many bags of fruit that otherwise would have rotted on the trees. Check out the good work being done at Uproot, an organization that values farmers and thinks redistributing local food with nutritional value aids hunger-relief efforts statewide.
Finally, my favorite memory— other than sharing a month of time & space with three incredible artists—was heading over to Hotchkiss to learn from master potter David Strong. Mr. Strong patiently explained the types of pottery and listened to my novice ideas on the art I wanted my main character to create; she uses found natural objects (mud, sticks, petals, leaves, and more nature debris) in combination with original poetry to create a held story—a handmade pot. I learned everything I could, made my own pot, and had deep conversations on sustainability and art at The Creamery Arts Center. I will use everything I learned in my writing.
Elsewhere proved to be a unique time of growth and learning, and I’m so thankful that I had the opportunity to spend a month inspired by both the people and the place.
p.s. Shout out to Tomatoes, the greatest art house cat of all time. I hope someone else sneaks him a bite of tuna fish—he deserves it!
