April 2024 E-Newsletter

Connecting with Nature Series: Art in the Parks

Join us for our Connecting with Nature series, where we’ll showcase various activities enjoyed by supporters of our Ottawa County Parks. From popular activities like mountain biking, hiking, skiing, swimming, and fishing to less traditional ones like forest bathing, artistic endeavors, and volunteering, there’s something for everyone. Regardless of the activity, the common thread is the opportunity to immerse oneself in nature, which has been scientifically linked to numerous benefits such as improved attention and reduced stress and anxiety levels.

During this series, we will be highlighting nature-based activities and encouraging you to explore new recreational opportunities. It is a great way to spend more time in nature and reap its rewards.

This month, we’ll explore how Ottawa County Parks inspire local artists. All of the artists profiled will have their artwork at Art for the Parks, which is an annual pop-up sale presented by the Lakeshore Visual Arts Collective to benefit the Parks Foundation at Hemlock Crossing.

Catherine McClung

As an artist, primarily painting nature, I find Ottawa County a most desirable place to live. Since moving here 19 years ago, I have drawn inspiration from the numerous parks, trails, and beaches for my watercolor paintings. Although bird watching gets me out to the parks, I am captivated by the wetland marshes, mature beech and maple forests, picturesque bayous and of course, the beautiful sandy beaches. Some of the birds that I have encountered and not witnessed in my time on the East side of the state, are bald eagles, barred owls, tundra swans, pileated woodpeckers, orchard orioles and amazingly, the white pelicans. I must also include here, just how important the Ottawa County parks were for the emotional well-being for my husband, Mike and I during the isolating days of Covid. Spending time hiking various trails during those difficult days was rejuvenating.

Gene Braaksma

I started doing serious photography in the early 1970s, Ansel Adams was one of my main inspirations. At times I do bird and fish carvings and acrylic painting, but my favorite thing to do is be out in Ottawa County Parks and green spaces capturing the wildlife and beautiful landscapes in the moment.

Nature as we so abundantly have preserved for us in Ottawa County can’t help but inspire one to try capture the many moments and creatures one sees when they walk through the parks. Ottawa County has done a phenomenal job of preserving areas for its residences to enjoy a multitude of amazing experiences.

One of my main inspirations in the parks is the many different bird species in our parks. I’ve personally photographed over 200 different species of birds in the parks.

What I love so much about the parks is that you can drive in many instances but a few miles or less and be in a natural area that abounds with the beauties of creation. At times I can even take one of the many bikes trails and without even driving my vehicle be at a park and on the trails.

Lynne Boezaart

My medium is oil, both studio and “plein air” (outdoor) painting. Although I do the occasional still life or cat portrait, I’ve never wanted to paint anything other than landscapes. I’ll take a tranquil, serene view over a dramatic scene every time. I’m looking for something that makes me exhale – then I set up my pochade box and paint or take some reference photos for later.

I grew up in West Michigan, so the Big Lake, the Grand River, the dunes and the back-dune forests are landscapes I’m drawn to. They make sense to me and I find them calming. I strive to capture that sense of calm in my landscape paintings. I love the quiet these park settings offer.

People often ask if I paint outdoors year-round. Yep. I am not a die-hard cold weather plein air painter, but I do try to get out a few times after the snow falls. If the winds are calm, temps above 30, and my boots are dry, I can paint. The county keeps the park roads and walkways clear of snow, so access is good. Save for the drum of a pileated woodpecker now and then, the woods in winter are exceptionally still, and the colors of the light on the snow are lovely.

Kirk Park, Hemlock Crossing and Eastmanville Farm are my go-to Ottawa County Parks for plein air painting. I love the varied scenes, the accessibility, and park staff have always been very welcoming. My painting friends and I often find ourselves visiting with hikers who are curious about what we’re up to, and it’s fun to chat – then we’re back to work before the light changes.

Sean Sterzer

My artwork is cut paper. It’s kind of an oddball medium, but I like the definite edges and shapes I can get using a simple craft knife and paper.

I’m inspired by the constant change of nature. From one day to the next, especially here in Michigan things change very quickly. I’ll take the dog out to walk Eastmanville Farm, I may photograph the sumacs with yellow leaves, or find a few birch trees beginning to turn. Go back a week later and it’s a totally different color palette. And I love weeds, thistles, pods and all the great growth that I find.

I am attracted to the bayou and river edge parks. Always a good day when you can traipse around the Connor Bayou area. I get a lot of ideas from the damp and wet that will translate into a feeling that I’d like to convey in my work.

Featured Plant: Serviceberry

by Bobbi Sabine

Spring is the time to welcome the blooms on our native serviceberry (Amelanchier interior and Amelanchier sanguinea). A shrub or small tree with white flowers, it’s found in many different habitats including sandy open areas, wooded dunes, rock outcrops, the edges of woodlots, and in conifer swamps or other wetlands. You’ll see it along many roadsides as you drive our Michigan highways this time of year.

Serviceberry is in the rose family, and has been reported in nearly every county in Michigan. Its range includes the northern quarter of the U.S. from South Dakota to Maine, all the way up to eastern Canada. It is also found in Europe and Asia.

The particular species and common name may vary greatly depending on what part of the country you are in – it’s also known as shadbush, shadwood, sarvix, chuckleypear, round-leaf serviceberry, sugar-plum, wild plum, juneberry, Saskatoon serviceberry, and many other variations. USDA lists 17 different species in the U.S.

The fruit from serviceberry is not only edible, but is reported to be sweet, flavorful, and chock full of anti-oxidants! They’re good to eat as soon as the skin turns a deep red color, but are fully ripe when dark purple and the skin looks waxy, usually by June. Each fruit contains a translucent white flesh, sometimes tinged with red or purple, and very, very juicy, with several very small light brown seeds.

Although they are called berries, technically the fruits are botanically pomes like the apple, pear, or quince. They contain a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, E, B2, B5, B6, B7 and B9, calcium, copper, magnesium, iron, manganese, potassium, zinc, dietary fiber, and antioxidant carotenes, and especially anthocyanins.

Native Americans used serviceberry wood to make arrow shafts, spears, and digging sticks. They ate the fruits fresh and dried, often mixed with other foods for sweetening and flavor. Dried and rehydrated fruits were added to dried vegetables and cooked into soups and puddings. They made a tea to treat colds by boiling the branches. The Chippewa, Cherokee, and other Native American tribes used the root-bark to cure diarrhea, indigestion, excessive menstrual bleeding, and to expel worms. Juneberry pies were made with serviceberry fruit by colonists and Native Americans.

Photo credit: Michigan Flora Online, R.W. Smith

2024 Art for the Parks

April 27, 2024

5 – 8 PM

Join us for Art for the Parks 2024! The Nature Education Center at Hemlock Crossing will be filled with art by regional artists in this pop-up event to benefit the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. Find works by painters, photographers, fiber artists, glass artists, ceramicists, jewelry makers, and a whole lot more. Live music. Cash bar. A $10 suggested donation at the door and 10% of all art sales benefit the Parks Foundation.

A special thank you to our sponsors, Dr. Barbara Brown and Linda McAffrey, Haworth Helps, D. Baker & Lumber Co., Marushka and Karen and Randy Smith.

Make your donation early and avoid the line.