information from Nature Consortium

Nature Consortium’s 2016 Arts in Nature Festival (fest.naturec.org) is one of the few remaining Seattle events “based on interaction, not transaction.”

Headlining Musicians:

Arts in Nature and the NW Folklife Festival are thrilled to present the band Big World Breaks (BWB) led by Aaron Walker-Loud to the new amplified “Nancy Stage” (named after festival founder Nancy Whitlock.) BWB has worked with Janelle Monae, Macklemore, Digable Planets, Reggie Watts and other major recording artists, and is comprised of some of the best local Funk, Soul, World Music and Jazz musicians – many of whom are alumni of the internationally-acclaimed Garfield and Roosevelt High School Jazz ensembles.

- The 2016 Arts in Nature Festival takes place Saturday, August 20 11am-9pm and Sunday, August 21 11am-6pm at Camp Long in West Seattle: 5200 35th Ave SW.

- Tickets are $10 per day for adults (or $16 for a weekend pass) and $5 per day for kiddos 12 & under. Get tickets through Stranger Tickets at https://www.strangertickets.com/events/34777940/arts-in-nature-festival or buy them at the festival.

- Nature Consortium (naturec.org) has been hosting this community outdoor arts festival at Camp Long in West Seattle since 1998.

- A convoy of food trucks including GAI BOX, PICNIC, POP UP and ATHENA’S keeps you energized for art-making, dancing, and nature trail exploring. For an added dose of hoppy happy, Fremont Brewing is provided “beers of distinction” for the beer garden!

Art Installations & Interactions:

Interaction ranges from using duct tape-wrapped chopsticks to hammer out a jam on Benson Smith’s “Junk Chime” to physically entering Installation Artist Markel Uriu’s “Bowers” to climbing aboard the converted RV that is YAMS, the Yesler Arts Mobile Studio providing hands-on art and craft making for all.

A perfect example of the “arts in nature” concept encouraging artists and audience members to engage in active participation is the piece Inner Galactic. Created by Maya Soto (choreographer) + Nico Tower (composer/multidisciplinary artist). The “Innernauts” explore the poetry of geology and the magic of time and sediment. They transform a cabin into a fantastical moon-like cave of crystals, craters, stalagmites, shadows and light representing deep matters of the heart using light + shadow boxes, visual design/art installation and original sound composition to create a new interactive sound environment. Visitors contribute through writing and sound-making.

Feedback:

Former installation artist and annual attendee Holli Margell says: “The Arts in Nature Festival is a unique family-style immersion experience, we’ve returned year after year because we know we can enjoy a laid-back experience with our kids where they learn something about art, music and the forest. As an artist, it provided me with a venue to showcase a full-sensory celebration of trees that included a cabin full of freshly-cut tree boughs accompanying recorded bird songs and nature portraits.”

Saturday Schedule:

Paul Denison 11:00am – 12:00pm Entrance
Melanie Reed 11:00am – 4:00pm Shelter
Imani Sims 11:30am – 12:15pm Nancy Stage
Kari Ann Hailey 11:45am – 12:45pm Pond
Thaddeus Spae 12:00pm – 1:00pm Glacier
Juliana & PAVA 12:00pm – 1:00pm Entrance
Naomi Wachira 12:20pm – 1:20pm Nancy Stage
Tee Hee Hee 1:00pm – 1:30pm By the Beer Garden
Searra Jade 1:00pm – 2:00pm At the Lodge
Imani Sims 1:15pm – 1:45pm Pond
Thaddeus Spae 1:30pm – 2:00pm Entrance
March to May 1:30pm – 2:00pm Glacier
Dixie Gypsy Project 1:30pm – 2:30pm Nancy Stage
Kristina Valencia 2:00pm – 2:45pm At the Lodge
J.R. Rhodes 2:00pm – 3:00pm Pond
Kari Ann Hailey 2:30pm – 3:00pm Glacier
Whitney Monge 2:00pm – 3:00pm

At the Lodge
Seattle Art Song Society 3:00pm – 4:15pm Nancy Stage
Ricky Gene Powell 3:15pm – 4:10pm Pond
Parzival Myr 4:00pm – 4:45pm At the Lodge
Hoopsmiles 4:15pm – 5:00pm Meadow
Erica Akiko Howard 4:15pm – 5:15pm Pond
The Acoustic 4:30 pm – 5:30pm Meadow
March to May 5:20pm – 6:20pm Pond
Etienne Cakpo 5:50pm – 6:50pm Nancy Stage
BIG WORLD BREAKS 7:00pm – 8:50pm Nancy Stage

Sunday Schedule:

Seattle SaxWorks 11:00am – 12:00pm Nancy Stage
Duo Finelli 11:00am – 12:30pm Entrance
Kari Ann Hailey 11:30am – 12:15pm Pond
Tee Hee Hee 11:45am – 12:45pm By the Beer Garden
The Abaraka Trio 12:00pm – 1:00pm Nancy Stage
Eric Apoe 12:30pm – 1:30pm Glacier
Timothy Bertsch 12:30pm – 1:30pm Pond
Ky Burt 1:00pm – 2:00pm Meadow Amphitheater
Suzanne Simmons 1:00pm – 2:00pm Nancy Stage
The Steering Committee 2:00pm – 3:00pm Pond
Brendan Regan 2:15pm – 3:15pm Nancy Stage
Hoopsmiles 3:00pm – 3:45pm Meadow
Animals of Grace 3:00pm – 4:00pm Glacier
Ian McFeron 3:00pm – 4:00pm Pond
B Sharp Studio 3:10pm – 4:00pm Nancy Stage
Strong Sun Moon 4:00pm – 5:00pm Nancy Stage
Michael Trew 4:00pm-5:00pm Glacier
Argan Band 4:00pm – 5:00pm Pond
Animals of Grace 5:15pm-6:00pm Nancy Stage