Nature as a Muse—and So Much More

The March Bitterroot Audubon program will be a little bit different from our usual programs, through which you have learned so much about birds, habitat, and recent research.  We are lucky enough to have three area artists join us to discuss the role of nature in their art.  Nature has been inspiring artists since humans first began drawing animals on cave walls (and maybe even earlier, as yet undiscovered). Art can be a means to express emotions, values, and opinions; a way to inspire others; and a record of a time and place.  And art tells us stories, of families, of cultures, of individuals. 

Our three artists, Dulcie Belanger, Karen Savory, and Uschi Carpenter, all use nature in their art.  Join us in an informal conversation with them about their work.  Feel free to explore their websites before the program and to think about questions you could pose to one, two, or all three of the artists. Dulcie’s site: https://www.dulciebelanger.com; Karen’s site: http://simplysavoryart.com; and Uschi’s site: https://www.uschiphotography.com.

Look for a link to register for this program below and in Bitterroot Audubon’s newsletter, website, and Facebook page.

Dulcie Belanger is a clay sculptor and educator in the Bitterroot Valley. She studied ceramic arts at the University of Montana and founded the Choteau Community Art Studio in Choteau, Montana.

The first home Dulcie remembers was next to a wooded area along the river. To her very young self, all the trees in these woods seemed to stretch above forever and left her in awe. Dulcie’s memories, perhaps intermingled with fairytales, are of an enchanted wood that she believed was alive with spirit, and she felt protected.

Dulcie’s love of the woods and the feeling of a presence within them has stayed with her all of her life. As she has journeyed through life’s stages, her human experience has continued to intermingle with a strong sense that the natural world is a healthy refuge, particularly at times when she seeks clarity and solace.

She carries this experience into her sculptural work by weaving images of living creatures, both animal and plant, with human forms. Dulcie’s work expresses how we navigate the journey of our lives not only through our relationship with the natural world and humankind but also through the power of myth, fairytale, and the stories that came before us.

Karen Savory grew up along the Niagara River in Western New York, camping and fishing with her dad and sewing and painting with her mom. A career as a traveling physical therapist brought her west, and she finally settled outside of Hamilton. She is now a professional artist. Karen’s own description of her art is far better than any I can write:

My art feeds my soul and expresses the utter joy I feel when wandering the mountainsides surrounding my Montana log cabin. The ever-changing colors of a granite wall on a crisp fall morning exhilarate me; the mysteries found in the soil and water fascinates me; and the grandness of the highest peaks and oldest forests humbles me. My bright and playful watercolor paintings celebrate nature as the aspen trees dance before me, the coyotes sing, and the wind whispers secrets in my ears.

Uschi Carpenter is a nature, wildlife, and fine arts photographer living in Missoula. After careers in teaching and international relations, she found her true calling as a photographer capturing the beauty of the wild. Her educational path spanned three countries (Germany, Great Britain, and the United States), but it was the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains that turned Uschi into “a shadow catcher and light chaser.” Trained by some of Montana’s finest master photography teachers, Uschi has emerged as a photographer in her own right, working with color, shadow, and light to present the familiar world in unfamiliar ways. Uschi is also an artist of words, a poet.  The interplay of her poems and photographs enriches each and gives her viewers and readers glimpses of intriguing landscapes, both interior and external.

Micki Long, BAS President, has created this program and will moderate the panel discussion. 

Join Bitterroot Audubon for what promises to be an enlightening, fascinating, and maybe even somewhat “amusing” evening! Register below:

You are invited to a Zoom meeting. 

When: Mar 15, 2021 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) 

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvcO2urjwsHtYaInPt1Yv46ZIshQ-maZw_

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.