In 2000, Nancy Jones gathered community members around her kitchen table to devise a plan to save a neighborhood parcel of land from development. She was an art schoolteacher who lived nearby, with a dream of protecting the creeks and wildlife that she and her family had grown to love. What started as a grassroots effort became a thriving 30-acre urban nature preserve, now home to conservation, education, and arts programs. Now, in celebration of Blue Heron’s 25th anniversary, Nancy returns to curate a special art exhibition that weaves together history and art in a powerful tribute to the Preserve’s past and future. Blue Heron Nature Preserve is pleased to announce its 11th annual outdoor art exhibition, Art of Nature.
The annual Art of Nature exhibition explores the profound dialogue between human creativity and the natural world. Nature, a wellspring of artistic inspiration, shapes our very concepts of beauty. Through this reflective exhibition, art becomes a means of deepening our connection to the landscapes we seek to protect, revealing their essence and importance.
This year’s showing is titled Placemaking: Through the Lens of Women, Water and History. The exhibit will explore the history of the land through the eyes of the women who have stewarded it, from the Muscogee tribes that resided there, through the various farms, mills and finally the establishment of the Preserve it is today. This story will unfold through a curated exhibition featuring works by local women artists—alongside original art by Nancy herself.
The art, which will be on display now through June 14, features a dynamic mix of indoor and outdoor installations:
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An indoor exhibition presented by The Atlanta Collage Society
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Large-scale outdoor installations among the trees, presented by artists Dorothy O’Connor, Shannon Willow, Rose Barron, and Nancy Jones
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We’ll also unveil a brand-new mural by Shannon Willow
Art of Nature provides an opportunity to reflect and experience how creativity and the natural world intertwine. This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of Northside Hospital.
About Blue Heron Nature Preserve
Blue Heron Nature Preserve is a 30-acre greenspace within the City of Atlanta Park system, managed by an independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with a mission to create a personal experience with nature through Conservation, Education, and the Arts. Blue Heron Nature Preserve is home to the 3-mile Blueway Trail, which allows visitors to experience four distinct ecosystems nestled in the heart of Buckhead. Founded in 2000 by local resident and schoolteacher Nancy Jones, Blue Heron Nature Preserve fulfills its mission through the support of donations and sponsorships.
Nature, a wellspring of artistic inspiration, shapes our very concepts of beauty. Art of Nature provides an opportunity to reflect and experience how creativity and the natural world intertwine.