Beam

Beam

Living in the 'flatlands' of mid-Michigan, surrounded by wheat and corn fields, it is not unusual to see big trees.  But they are usually second or third generation, standing alone in someones yard or a park.  Michigan was pretty well clear cut from shore to shore and top to bottom back in the 1800's.  Conservation practices were unknown.  Man ruled and nature and all it's bounty was there for the taking and for our every use.
The opportunity for me to see virgin stands of the last giant trees in Michigan came while I was Artist in Residence at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.  Hiking the Government Peak Trail, Lake Superior Trail and Big Carp River Trail left me in awe of what Michigan must have looked like. 

Huge, majestic, beings that grew for centuries in the storms and winds of Lake Superior.  They strengthened their bones against the onslaught by growing roots into the rocks of the escarpment, wrapping around and through them.  

They grew slowly and with purpose up to the light of the sky and 

a beam of light from the sun.

The trees were deemed too difficult to get to and fell back in the day and so were left.  Today, without the protection of the Park, all kinds of machinery would be moved in and fell them with no problem.

What troubles me is how big business and government love to worm around the protection placed on our public lands.  Lands that WE, the taxpayers own!  The moves recently to go under these lands, searching for oil, gas, minerals.  They put forth the argument that they are not disturbing the Park - we can still hike the trails and enjoy the wildlife and views above ground.  And look at all the jobs they will create!  Goodness!  We should all embrace their compassion for us!
Yet they maim the land gaining access and then poison the groundwaters that flow into the streams, rivers and the largest source of fresh water on earth!  They don't think about the consequences to the next generations that can never repair their damage.

We need to stand tall, like these giant trees.  Grow deep strong roots.  Hold on tight against the winds that conspire to fell us.  We need to reach with everything we have toward the sun and harness the energy given by it instead of digging into the deep places where what we do is hidden from the light.

We need to Beam.

10,000 Leaves

Nothing is more beautiful than Michigan in the autumn.  Last October I had the privilege to be Artist in Residence at Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park.  For 2 weeks we were provided a cabin in a remote part of the Park that was built by the Friends of the Porkies.  We spent each day hiking  some of the more than 20 trails.  One of only a few protected Wilderness areas in the Midwest, with 60,000 acres, rivers, secluded lakes, old growth forests and countless waterfalls, it was hard to chose the one image that would define my time there.

10,000 Leaves

In the end I chose this view from Summit Peak - the highest point in the Park.  This view gives you an idea of why they are called the Porcupine Mts.  With a little imagination maybe you can see the outline of the porcupines back in the ridge-lines of pine and hardwoods.
Tucked into those deep shadows is Mirror Lake which you can get to from the Peak by following the Mirror Lake Trail.  There is a very nice, secluded rustic campground at the Lake itself.  Only a few sites are there and they require a backcountry pass to camp at.

Mirror Lake

That trail in turn connects with others - well, here's a pdf of them all: Porkies Trails.  You won't be bored, that's for sure.
I highly recommend visiting the Porkies and for all you artists (not just visual) if you are looking for solitude, wilderness, beauty and inspiration, you should apply for this AiR!

8" x 30"
8 birch blocks
27 impressions
edition of 15 on various papers
Papers - Kihada, Kihada light, Echizen and Shikoku.

Reclamation

Reclamation

In October 2011, I was Artist in Residence at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.  With old growth forests, waterfalls, Lake Superior and a plethora of hiking trails, I was inspired until I was overflowing.

We were fortunate to go on two guided hikes with Park Interpreter, Bob Wild, which I highly recommend you do if visiting there.  The first was an early evening bear den hike – during a time when posted signs in the Park said “Bear Activity is High”! The second was a twilight, 90 minute guided hike through the former town site and copper mill of the Nonesuch Copper Mine.  The former copper mill’s limestone building shells and processing pits are slowly disintegrating and there is talk of archeological work being done there in the future if funding can be found.

It was the old town site that really interested me.  The buildings are long gone – torn down or moved during the Depression.  Lilac bushes and fruit trees that now feed only wildlife are the only things left that show that humans inhabited the town site. As we walked back out of the area, the full moon shone down on Nonesuch.  The relatively young trees, holding on to the last of their golden leaves, glowed softly.  The Reclamation by the Wilderness was well on its way.

Artist in Residence - Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park

Welcome to Dan's Cabin

 I have just returned from 2 weeks at Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula where I was the final Artist in Residence of the year.  My husband and I spent the time hiking every day.  My focus was on the old growth & virgin forests and the park's many, many waterfalls.  As part of my residency I gave a program explaining moku hanga and showed examples of prints and my tools.  I also have to, within a year, give a piece of art inspired by my residence to the Friends of the Porkies.

Dan's Cabin

 This is the AiRP home during their residency.  GORGEOUS!  The cabin was a work of love and respect for Dan Urbanski. ( Artist in Residence information page )The art and craft that went in to every piece of the cabin is astonishing.  We were honored to be there.  The little building is, yup, an outhouse.  Composting outhouse to be exact.  That was quite an interesting experience too!
The cabin is a little over 1/4 mile from the trail head and everything, including water, had to be carried up the hill to the cabin.  There was no electricity, no wifi, no cell phone reception.  It was great!  Although bear activity was high, we were not fortunate enough to see one.  Or that could be seen as a good thing, too, I guess!

Lake of the Clouds

 This was the late afternoon view from the Escarpment Trail at Lake of the Clouds. 

Lake Superior Trail campsite

 We were given a backcountry pass for 3 nights and we decided to hike out to the Lake Superior Trail and set up camp between the Little and Big Carp Rivers.  From there we went another couple miles to Shining Cloud Falls and back before settling down for the night.  With perfect weather and our food safely stashed up the bear pole, we slept very soundly.

Presque Isle river

 A view of the Presque Isle river as it flows out to Lake Superior.

Trap Falls

 We spent one day hiking Government Peak Trail to Trap Falls.  It was an oasis!  We found it a perfect place to stop for lunch.

West Vista view on the Overlook Trail

After spending the morning hiking the Union Spring Trail (5 miles) we refueled and after lunch attempted Overlook Trail.  At "only" 2 miles we thought it would be a piece of cake.  That piece of cake took us nearly 5 hours.  Out in these mountains you can't figure how long it will take by miles.  It was quite an accomplishment for this (early) mid life couple but we did it!

The beauty I found in the Porkies was more than I could every have imagined. Michigan never disappoints me.  I cannot wait to see what prints come out of this!  Now......to work!