Forest Story explores our relationship & responsibility to the forest community.  Reception 05/05/2019; 2-5pm. 

In Forest Story, Mitchell’s luminous, romantic oil paintings of natural places create a distressed contemporary response to accelerating deterioration in natural systems worldwide and the fundamental human need for connection to the natural world.

Surfaces are often sanded, scraped and scored, paint is splattered and dripped, and an indication of distress underlies subsequent layers of glazes. This process creates a depth and a mysterious quality that invites contemplation.  Words such as “meditative”, “hypnotic”, and “exquisite” have all been used in describing the work. One writer said that they “hum with premonition,” another referred to “jewel-like color” and a pull “between antiquity and Armageddon.”

 This series was created during the current period of increasing threats to our environment, a time when Armageddon can seem ever closer and premonition is in the air everywhere.

Artist Statement for ‘Forest Story’

We are so lucky to be living here in this little valley of the Sparkill Creek. I’ve been painting the creek, marshes and mountains in this area for many years, and frequently take long walks in our forested areas. In this series of paintings I am hoping to spark a greater appreciation of the forests that surround us and contribute so much to our well-being, and with it some commitment to their preservation. Many of the paintings may seem dark and full of premonition, but they exist to celebrate the forest as the dynamic creature it is filled with vitality – and even perhaps a touch of the sacred that ancient peoples perceived in the great forests of the past.

Our relationship with trees has been inspiring artists since man’s first markings. In paleolithic rock art recently studied in Utah and estimated to have been carved approximately 10-14,000 years ago, and in various representations found in ancient Egyptian, Roman and Chinese art, artists have created their own symbolic images of trees. More recently, in both European and American art trees have been depicted in a plethora of styles from extremely realistic to very abstract.

Across history, trees have been worshiped and valued for their beauty as well as their utility and considered symbolic and sacred in many cultures. Their similarities to the human form have not been missed and recent science tells us that they form “communities”, communicate with one another, share nutrients, have an early warning system set up to resist pests and disease, and release compounds into the air well documented as therapeutic to human health and well-being.  Shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’ has been a part of the national health program in Japan since 1982 when the forest ministry coined the term “taking in the forest atmosphere” and it is a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.

Forests are often called the “lungs” of the earth since they produce the oxygen that we breathe while absorbing significant amounts of the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Nevertheless, we have been destroying our forests at an alarming rate, cutting them down for lumber and to expand agriculture, grazing, mining and real estate development, while climate change itself now poses perhaps the greatest threat to their existence. The increasing temperatures, drought, insect infestations and invasive species resulting from disrupted climate are all threatening the forests that remain. We must stop and ask ourselves what happens when the forests are gone.

These paintings are not intended as depictions of specific places. They’re more about a general sense of things. I urge everyone to go out for a walk in the woods on a regular basis and experience that sense. We have so much to enjoy here – and to protect.

“In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”  — Baba Dioum, Senegalese forestry engineer.

Artist CV PDF

Gallery Notes for ‘Forest Story’

Pando Forest, estimated to be approx. 80,000 years old, is located in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest.  It is presently the world’s largest known organism and researched to be on the verge of collapse because of human mismanagement, (study link).  

Unsuccessful rescue efforts have led scientists to an unexpected deeper and critical interconnectedness within nature that is globally approaching a ‘point of no return’.

Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness

As a society we suffer from nature deficit disorder, but studies have shown that spending mindful, intentional time around trees–what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing–can promote health and happiness. In this beautiful book–featuring more than 100 color photographs from forests around the world, including the forest therapy trails that criss-cross Japan–Dr. Qing Li, the world’s foremost expert in forest medicine, shows how forest bathing can reduce your stress levels and blood pressure, strengthen your immune and cardiovascular systems, boost your energy, mood, creativity, and concentration, and even help you lose weight and live longer.

“The SOUK” returns 9/23/2018 for its Harvest season at The OUTSIDE IN.  A foodie event focused on local prepared, take away foods, provisions and artisan goods.  Come visit favorite returning vendors and meet surprise guests every Sunday thru 11/18.  There will be occasional workshops, classes & live music (please email us with requests). Please join “The SOUK” email list for giveaways, specials and weekly updates.  Thanks to all our continued supporters and awesome vendors, lets make a great market.

This event explores the past and present operations of three venues, Bell-ans Center of Creative Arts, The OUTSIDE IN, and Union Arts Center, with a day of art openings, workshops & closings taking place at each venue thru the day.

Volition Gallery at Bell-ans Center of Creative Arts:  “Denim”. Once home to Udelco, a meca for recycled denim, Bell-ans’ Volition Gallery hosts “Denim”, an exhibit by The Bluefield Artists who explore denim through painting, photography, metal and pottery.  South Greenbush Road, Orangeburg, NY

Union Arts Center (UAC): “Channeled: Spiritual Energy Abstractions”. UAC pays homage to its past as home to the spiritual and artisinal group The Craftsmen with a reception with artist David Young (4 – 6) followed by an “Art Hang” with food and wine by Halo & Horns.

The OUTSIDE IN: “Origins”.  Uncovering the building’s roots as a flower and garden shop with botanicals & plants through art, workshops and tastings. Oil paintings by Dale Payson, reception 12n-4pm. (FREE demos, workshops & tastings thru the day.) 

“Origins”: Demos, Workshops & Tastings at The OUTSIDE IN, aka, “The Flower Pot”.

04.15.2018, 12n-4pm

 “Improving Your Soil – A Garden Is Only As Good As It’s Dirt”,  1pm. FREE 

A 20-30 minute workshop about preparing a garden, with focus on improving/building nutrient rich soils. Frankie’s opinion is that organic gardening, while fussy and complicated at first, is by and far the best way to yield the most lush, vigorous and productive plants possible. The goal of this workshop is to learn from each other’s experiences in the garden and to look at some tips from expert gardeners about how composting and good organic growing practices will dramatically increase your gardens health, beauty and harvest.

Instructor: Francesco Caruana.  Business: Frankie’s Peppers LLC – a small nursery for chile peppers

Francesco is a Sparkill native, born and raised, who began his obsession with gardening through cultivation of chile peppers. While purchasing a Mother’s Day gift several years ago, Frankie stumbled upon a simple habanero plant, which he bought and meticulously nurtured for the rest of that Summer, turning its fruits into sauces and fun pepper products. Frankie has been avidly growing peppers and other fruits/vegetables since then, each year expanding his arsenal and reading lots of material on soil and composting. Simple medicine:  Herbal Infusions, teas and nourishing foods.

Nyack Seed Exchange “Seed Swap” Kiosk at The OUTSIDE IN.  All Day.  FREE

Nyack Seed Exchange is brought to us by Jennifer Hausler of Cottage Creek Gardens, a new small home-based nursery in Valley Cottage, NY, that is currently establishing and propagating plants for a sales launch this spring.  The Nyack Seed Exchange is a place for gardeners to share seeds and experience. You can check out vegetable, flower &  herb seeds or donate them to the seed library.  The Exchange supports organic gardening, but accepts donations from all gardeners. Most of their commercial donors have signed the Safe Seed Pledge, and many of their seeds are organic.  If you would like to donate your saved seeds to the exchange, please make sure seeds are dry and you can print and fill out ahead the Seed Label Template.

“Simple Medicine: Herbal Infusions, Teas & Nourishing Foods”, 2pm.  FREE4 

Learn to nourish yourself with easy, cost effective methods of preparing health sustaining foods, simple teas  & nourishing foods. Plants are here to support us and when we use them as medicine and food we open up to the world in a new and life affirming away.  Please bring a favorite mug or cup as there will be several delicious teas to taste. Drinks served in combo with tea & espresso bar.

Instructor: Scott Massarsky combines his three loves of art, music and the healing plants as a teaching artist to give fun, unique and informative workshops, lectures and performances.  Scott graduated with a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and has received grants from the Puffin Foundation for both art and songwriting. He is currently a teaching artist with the Peace Garden Song and Mural project – where he brings murals, music and mindfulness into schools.  He has been practicing herbalism for the past 15 years and has apprenticed with Herbalist Robin Rose Bennett.

NOVA: The Hidden Power of Plants 1987 

“The Flower Pot”, a full day of ongoing plant workshops

Join our staff for a day of plants and planting prep in OUTSIDE IN care-free style.  Come have fun mounting epiphytes, propagating & mixing succulents’ while lashing & trellising bamboo for the seeds you will sew in your gardens this spring.