
Art Happens
So I have been here at Mammoth Cave just a few days and in that time I have taken 3 cave tours and a guided hike where I got to know some of the rangers who work here and know all about the park. I also have explored the park on my bike and am generally getting the lay of the land. When I am moving around and bouncing from place to place, I am pretty content. However, when I am at my little house here, I don’t exactly know what to do with myself. I have never been left to my own devices in such a way ever in my life. Ever. It’s at once blissful and terrifying. Art (capital A) seems extremely daunting, even though I am jotting down ideas as they come. So I am starting small. Little sketches, little experiments. I found a wild turkey feather on the ground and made a little drawing of it.
I collected some walnuts in the park (which I found out is permitted at this particular National Park) and processed them into a dye bath….
and I put some paper bits in to see what would happen. I was pleased.
I have also spent some time chatting up the scientists who work to keep the park natural and healthy. I visited a freshwater mussel growing facility and talked to a guy whose job it is to know all things invasive… and keep them out. And so I did a little embroidery.
All of these are just little sketches. Little ways of getting my feet wet and greasing the skids for more work. Today was the first time I actually could sit still long enough to get any real work done. Hopefully that trend continues!