ForestSong: Art, Grief, and Care in a Changing Landscape
Words by Balanced Rock • Photos courtesy of Emma Constable (@artisticfacade)
We are delighted to share reflections from ForestSong: Painting Forest Prayer Flags — a pair of one-day workshops that were unexpectedly powerful…
Each day began outside, by the creek. Participants spent time noticing what was already there: birdsong, wind through trees, the slow movement of water. There was no pressure to arrive anywhere emotionally. The invitation was simply to pay attention, together, and to start from the body and the senses rather than ideas or outcomes.
Facilitated by Sierra Nevada artist Andie Thrams, the workshops moved between time outdoors, guided reflection, and art-making. Participants were introduced to drawing and painting as a process rather than a product. Before marks were made on paper, people traced shapes and movement in the air, connecting physical gesture to intention. Watercolor, ink, and wildfire charcoal were used not as tools to master, but as materials to respond to.
As the days unfolded, participants had very different experiences. For some, the process felt playful and freeing — an opportunity to experiment without judgment, working with both natural and human-made materials. For others, something heavier surfaced. Moments of quiet attention opened space for grief: grief for landscapes that have changed, for forests shaped by fire and drought, and for the emotional weight many people carry but rarely have room to acknowledge.
Andie gently and expertly framed the process and experience using the concepts of biophilia and solastalgia.
Biophilia describes our innate connection to life and living systems—the way humans are wired to feel grounded and nourished by the natural world. Solastalgia, by contrast, names the grief and distress that can arise when the places we love are changing or being damaged. Many participants shared that simply having language for these experiences was meaningful. Naming solastalgia, in particular, helped reframe environmental grief not as something pathological or overwhelming, but as a sign of care and relationship.
Art-making became a way to stay with these emotions without needing to resolve them. Painting from observation, returning again and again to a single image or movement, and working with natural materials allowed participants to remain present with what was emerging. Group reflections and informal conversations created space for shared experience, without pressure to explain or perform insight.
One of the most moving moments came at the end of each workshop, when the painted forest prayer flags were hung together outside. Seeing the individual pieces gathered into a shared installation shifted something in the space. What had begun as personal reflection became collective — a visible expression of care, grief, gratitude, and attention, held together.
ForestSong offered a reminder that connection to place is rarely simple. It can be grounding, creative, joyful, tender, and heavy — sometimes all at once. Rather than asking participants to land on a single feeling, the workshops made room for complexity, honoring the reality that our relationship with the natural world reflects our individual and collective humanity.
As Balanced Rock continues to offer Art, Nature & Wellness programming, we remain committed to creating spaces that support the full range of experience—rooted in care for the land, for one another, and for the honest emotions that arise when we slow down and really pay attention.
Perspectives from Participants
“The entire workshop flowed seamlessly. The solastalgia portion is incredibly profound and useful. I left feeling inspired, connected, and loved.”
“The most meaningful moment for me was just standing with my eyes closed and listening to nature and breathing. I feel recharged!”
“Hanging the prayer flags at the end made me feel truly connected to the whole community. Thank you for such a peaceful experience.”
Want to learn from Andie? Visit her website to explore all of her offerings: Andie Thrams
“I learned so much! I found connecting movement and intention into an art practice to be particularly inspiring.”
Gratitude for Our Partners & Collaborators
This event was made possible through generous support from California State Parks, the California Arts Council, and Parks California, whose commitment to strengthening community connection through arts and nature programming continues to open doors for all.
Our heartfelt thanks also go to Andie Thrams for her thoughtful guidance and facilitation, and to Emma Constable for documenting the experience so beautifully through still photos (for photography inquiries, you can send Emma an email).
And most of all, thank you to everyone who showed up with curiosity and a willingness to create alongside one another.
“This workshop stoked my curiosity to continue learning how to observe and create. Thank you Andie and Balanced Rock!”
What's Next in Art, Nature & Wellness…
We’re excited to continue this new tradition of connection and creativity in community. We are gearing up for a 3-week Art, Nature & Wellness Immersion program that will take place March 9-27, 2026 at Midpines Park & Hall.
We are still accepting applications for this special immersion, head over to the webpage to submit yours today!
