Making art has the power to clear our minds and make room for a creative and healing process. The beautiful thing about connecting to nature this way is that there are no lines to stay inside and your expression can flow freely in harmony with the world around us. Read more as Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and artist, Brenda Spitzer, teaches us an invitation she uses on forest therapy walks.
Spending time in nature and noticing natural details has been an inspiration for artists over the centuries. Nature not only offers inspiration, but also provides a multitude of materials that can be used to create ephemeral art throughout the year. Such art is meant to be fluid and temporary. With exposure to natural elements, ephemeral art is meant to return to the earth.
Creating ephemeral art with found materials can be a centering experience. It brings participants into the moment as they connect with the sights, sounds, textures and scents of the environment around them.
For this invitation, I ask my participants to find a spot in the forest to which they feel drawn. I ask them to go to that spot and seek its consent to interact with it. They then spend some time exploring their spot using all of their senses. I ask them to think of their chosen place as a protective space where they can express their thoughts and feelings. Once participants feel comfortable in their spaces, I ask them to gather some natural materials and use them to create something new that has never before been in that place, letting their intuition guide them. If they wish, their creations could also metaphorically represent what is going on in their life at this time.
Since they are using natural materials, their creations will have an ephemeral existence and will be transformed over time by the exposure to the seasons and the elements. Participants then spend time creating their art in the forest. During this invitation, everyone seems to become absorbed in this creative process. When I ring the bell, we gather to visit each other’s creations and to share our experiences.
Written By: Brenda Spitzer, Certified Forest Therapy Guide offering Forest Therapy in Wheaton, Illinois and surrounding areas. For more information contact blspitzer515@comcast.net or you can visit Brenda’s Facebook Page at Shinrin-yoku Nature and Forest Therapy – Wheaton