Throughout time, nature has been a muse for artists. The Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “Art takes nature as its model.” Combining art and nature invites exploration of the natural world, deepens our understanding of ourselves, and has quantifiable benefits to our well-being.
Blue Heron Nature Preserve’s founding mission is to “create a personal experience with nature through conservation, education, and the arts.” And for almost a decade, the annual outdoor exhibition Art of Nature has served this mission by merging the Preserve’s unique greenspace with Atlanta’s visionary artists.
Curated by Blue Heron’s 2024 Artist-in-Residence Dorothy O’Connor, the 10th Annual Art of Nature features new projects from previous participating artists, considering the theme “Community.” The diverse collection of artistic projects ranges from the permanent to the ephemeral, from works encouraging examination to works promoting interaction. Among the 2024 installations are:
∙ Diana Toma’s mural on a concrete cistern in the Woodland Loop Trail, applied to keep part of the original surface, building the imagery around stains, age spots, and peeling paint as if it’s always been there.
∙ Alison Hamil, a previous Blue Heron Artist-in-Residence, added to her on-site murals roster with an Ant Trail Crosswalk. The ants, painted on the pavement, guide visitors along the trail from Rickenbacker Drive to the opposite side of Nancy Creek.
∙ Bautanzt Here, an Atlanta-based site-specific dance theatre company, performed “Shielding Echoes” at the April 20 opening. Under the guidance of Nadya Zeitlin, Bautanzt Here (from bau meaning “build” and tanzt for “dancing”) tells visually engaging stories in unconventional spaces, making dance accessible, often to people who don’t usually attend dance performances.
.∙ Laura Bell’s ten cyanotype fabric panels, hung from the trees in the center of the Preserve between Nancy Creek and the Woodland Loop Trail, with imagery representing the plant and animal species found in the distinct habitats of the Preserve.
∙ Becca Rodriguez created a tabletop (or “forest floor”) life cycle role-playing game, made to complete the journey from egg to fully metamorphosed frog. Becca is an artist and a volunteer with the Amphibian Foundation, a nonprofit in residence at Blue Heron Nature Preserve, and her game is located near their mesocosms off the Confluence Trail.
The exhibition also features work from Nneka Kai, Shana L. Robbins, Hellenne Vermillion, Julia Hill, and an artist team comprised of Sylvia Cross, Nicole Haysler, Wes Cribb, and Randy Taylor. Art of Nature 2024: Community can be enjoyed through June 9 anytime the Preserve is open as a self-guided tour.
A map, visual references, and artist statements are available here and each installation is accompanied by signage. In addition, Art of Nature 2024: Community partnered with Georgia State University for “Canary in the Water,” an exhibit in the Indoor Gallery from three Graduate Student Artists, curated by Pam Longobardi and Jeremy Bolen. Nature-inspired artworks will be on display from Heather Bird Harris, Leslie Drennan, and Cheyenne Hendrickson. Art of Nature 2024: Community is sponsored by Georgia Power, Aprio, YKK AP, and Northside Hospital.
