We were so happy to host a second workshop with Patricia Larenas, turning ashes from the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire into beautiful works of art. This event draws the connection between climate impacted areas and highlights the post-fire, forest management happening at San Vicente Redwoods.

The paint making from charcoal is a unique outlet to turn climate change dread and despair into creative form. Bearing witness to the devastation of the fire and finding the beauty of the regrowth is an important way to connect to the landscape and heal from experiencing the impact of the fire. The paint making process involves getting your hands dirty, grinding charred wood into a fine powder, and binding them together into a beautiful water-soluble paint. This workshop was a fun way to share stories, talk about trees, learn from one another, swap art tips, and build community.

This event stands out because the majority of the time, the climate change conversation is heavily rooted in statistics, charts, and studies---all incredibly important and crucial, but sometimes not the most moving or touching. Having art in any form, be it watercolor, oil, painting, mixed media, or any other artistic expression provides a medium to capture the feelings, emotion, and spirit of the forest. Using art funnels the climate emergency despair into a personal, hand-made, tangible, and beautiful creation.

Patricia Larenas is a Bay Area artist and coordinator of the Northern California chapter of Artists for Climate Awareness (ACA), a nonprofit organization that uses the power of art to inspire climate action. You can learn more about Patricia on her website and Instagram.

We would also like to thank Artists for Climate Awareness (ACA, Northern California chapter), Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Save-the-Redwoods League, and Sempervirens Fund.