FORESTSONG
An Art Project by Andie Thrams
Finding Creativity & Resilience In Forests
About ForestSong
ForestSong is an ongoing project by Andie Thrams exploring the emotional and visual impacts of climate change in forests and the healing power of art. The project centers on painting Forest Prayer Flags to deepen connection to place, address environmental despair (solastalgia), embrace delight in the natural world (biophilia), invoke the sacred, and bear witness. ForestSong exhibits artwork, leads creative processes, and shares forest ecology, wildfire-preparedness guidance, sound art, and actionable steps to foster forest stewardship through events for wildfire-impacted communities and individuals. Harnessing creativity to grieve home and habitat loss helps us rise from the ashes, celebrate beauty, and take action toward healing ourselves and our world.
2025 ForestSong Events
March 27-29, 2025— ForestSong Art Exhibition, The Bioneers Conference, Berkeley, CA
See below for more about last year’s events. Please stay tuned for more events to come…
ForestSong artists at the 2024 Camp Lotus community event:
Sound artist Dustin Koupal, poet Moira Magneson, visual artist Andie Thrams, visual artist Laurel Ferreira, and sound artist Zack Dowell.
Photos used with permission by: Dennis Eagan, Jordan Hyatt-Miller, Eric Magneson, and Andie Thrams
2024 ForestSong Events
In 2024, eleven ForestSong events were held in nine Sierra Nevada forest communities. Nearly 1800 people of all ages and abilities joined in these events to paint, view Forest Prayer Flags, write poems, listen to forest soundscapes, and learn about forest ecology and wildfire preparedness. Forest scientists and wildfire experts shared information at each outdoor event. 100% of survey respondents reported feeling significantly impacted by attending a ForestSong event.
October 10-13, 2024—ForestSong Art Retreat, Balanced Rock, Yosemite, CA
September 29, 2024—Free Outdoor Community Event, Camp Lotus, Lotus, CA
September 22, 2024—Free Outdoor Community Event, Pioneer Park, Somerset, CA
July 21-26, 2024—ForestSong Art Retreat, San Francisco State University Sierra Nevada Field Campus, Sattley, CA
July 11-August 11, 2024—ForestSong Reception, Exhibition, and Artists Talk, Switchboard Gallery, Placerville, CA
June 29, 2024—Free Outdoor Community Event, Grover Hot Springs State Park, Markleeville, CA
June 9, 2024— Free Outdoor Community Event, Taylor Creek Nature Center, South Lake Tahoe, CA
June 2, 2024—Free Outdoor Community Event, RIPE AREA, Wakamatsu Farm, Placerville, CA
April 28, 2024—Free Outdoor Community Event, Arts in Nature Fest, Georgetown, CA
These activities received funding from the California Arts Council, a state agency, through the California Creative Corps and the City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture. ForestSong has also received kind support from Arts & Culture El Dorado, University of California Natural Reserve System’s Sequoia and Yosemite National Park Field Stations, Save the Redwoods League, and the Bioneers. Big thanks to all!