Art is a Natural Bridge:
Connecting art and environmental activism 

A juried art exhibition and film festival at MidMountain Retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains, benefiting POWHR, Artivism VA, and MidMountain.

Featuring contributions from: 

Caroline Booth, Chris Landry, James Pannabecker, Casey Murano, Karen Pannabecker, AnaMarie King, Taylor Hanigosky, Ephemera House, Dylan Krinberg, Traci Wile, Chelsea Dudley, Mary Swezey, Nina Whitehead, Brittany Klinger, Mountain Mama Studios, Cary Oliva, Brinn Willis, and F.W. Willis.

We are also excited to share Denali Nalamalapu's first solo show with MidMountain. “Underwater Rainbow” explores the expressive power of Appalachian mountain defenders in vibrant colors and intimate gaze. In the context of increasing state violence against environmental activists, Denali conveys their power through portraiture, a medium usually restricted to the rich and powerful. Denali’s pieces will be for sale at a pay-what-you-can rate, with all proceeds to the artist. 


Art is a Natural Bridge is a benefit for Protect Our Water Heritage and Rights (POWHR), Artivism VA, and MidMountain. Most other pieces available with 85% of proceeds to the individual artists and the commission split between the nonprofit organizations.


Email river@midmountain.org for purchase inquiries. 


Free Film Festival May 25, 2024

5pm: Potluck Reception

6pm: Film shorts in Gallery Room

7pm: Not On This Land in Gallery Room (Video Best in Show)

8pm: King Coal outdoor screening


Closing reception: June 16, 2024, 3-6pm

Upper left: Nalamalapu, Something's Not Right, Acrylic on canvas, 20x20, Pay what you can estimated value: $300

Upper right: Denali Nalamalapu, “Morning Blessing”, Acrylic on canvas, 12x16), Pay what you can estimated value: $150

Lower left: Denali Nalamalapu, Have you ever had a hero? Acrylic on canvas, 12x12, Pay what you can estimated value: $200

Lower right: Denali Nalamalapu,Passion flower, Acrylic on canvas, 11x14), Pay what you can estimated value: $150

Center: Denali Nalamalapu, "First meeting," Acrylic on canvas, 24x24), Pay what you can estimated value estimate: $300

Top left: Casey Murano, Left at the Z, 24 x 60in, oil on canvas (two panels totaling this width) $400. 2-D BEST IN SHOW. 

Bottom left: Taylor Hanigosky, Body Armor for the Next World, wool felt, steel scaffold, wetland sand, NFS. 3-D BEST IN SHOW. 

Center top: Brinn Willis, ‘Straw Pond’, 20x16, wetplate collodion fine art print 

Center bottom: Brittany Klinger Photography, Shadoe, Digital Photography,  11x14 frame 8x10 matte, $88

Top right: Casey Murano, Returning to Watershed Discipleship 2, 24x24 in, colored pencil on paper (framed to 30x30in) $300 (SOLD)

Bottom right: Brinn Willis, ‘Road to Petites Gap’, 8x10, wetplate photograph on tin

Karen Pannabecker, Birds in the round, $1,800.00

Left: Nina Faye, Two Worlds Collide, 18x 36", oil on wood

Top right: Dylan Krinberg, All in All Dwellings, 11x14”, NFS

Bottom right: Cary Oliva, Allium, Polaroid emulsion lift, 10x10", $145

Cary Oliva, Bye, Bye, Birdies, Reclaimed Wood, photography, encaustic medium, string and nails, $275 

Left: F.W. Willis, Let Sleeping Gods Lie, Woodblock print, $175

Center left: Taylor Hanigosky, Artifacts of Interaction, assemblage of locally found rock, sand, and soil, iron, ceramic, wool felt, and plastic. Dimensions variable, NFS

Center right: Traci Wile, Adobe Bricks, interactive exhibit exterior to main house

Right: Taylor Hanigosky, On Felt and Feral Grounds, 52 pages hand bound with a sandbag cover coated in beeswax and several folded inserts, 5.5 x 11 inches, $50 per copy


Left: Mountain Mamma Folk Art Studio, Peace, 10-1/2x12-1/2", Acrylic on Canvas, $500

Bottom center: Mountain Mamma Folk Art Studio, Forgotten, 24 x 24", Acrylic on Canvas, NFS

Top center: Casey Murano, Greenbrier is Flowing 3, framed to 31 1/2 x 41", watercolor, mud from the Greenbrier River, charcoal, colored pencil on paper, NFS

Right: Mountain Mamma Folk Art Studio, White Egret, 11 x 14", Acrylic on Canvas, $250

Bottom left: Caroline Booth, Whispers of Serenity, Digital, 8x8 in 12x12 frame, $150

Middle left: Caroline Booth, Inner Peace, Digital, 8x8 in 12x12 frame, $150

Top left: Caroline Booth, Tranquil Wanderings, Digital, 8x8 in 12x12 frame, $150

Top right: Caroline Booth, The Captain's Solitude, Watercolor, 8x10 in 11x14 frame, $150.

Bottom right: Caroline Booth, Nature's Embrace, Watercolor, 8x10 in 11x14 frame, $150.

Sarah Murphy, Bill Limpert tribute and hat, NFS

Left: Mountain Mamma Folk Art Studio, Mt. Momma,16 x 18", Acrylic on Canvas, NFS

Center left: Mountain Mamma Folk Art Studio, Scarlett, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 2"0, NFS

Middle: Sarah Murphy, Atlantic Coast Pipeline Protest ride saddle, NFS

Center right: Brittany Klinger Photography, Milky Way Over Natural Bridge, Digital Photography, 11x14" frame 8x10" matte, $88

Right: Casey Murano, Energy Transparency, 19 1/4 x 23 1/2", oil on repurposed window from low-income home repair project, $150

Traci Wile,  Adobe Brick installation

Bottom: Mary Swezey, Corroded, .75# Dx 5"w x 5" H (4 x 6 framed), rust and embroidery on cotton, 

Center: Mary Swezey, Terrain Growth: Fallow, 1" D x 5" X 5", embroidery on silk and cotton, 

Top: Mary Swezey, New River, .75" D x 3"w x 5"H, (4x6 framed), embroidery and tea stain on linen, 

Top: AnaMarie King, Untitled, ink and blood, $250

Bottom: Winter at Goshen Pass, 2’ x 2', oil on wood panel

Taylor Hanigosky, On Felt and Feral Grounds, 52 pages hand bound with a sandbag cover coated in beeswax and several folded inserts, 5.5 x 11 inches, $50 per copy

Taylor Hanigosky, Artifacts of Interaction, assemblage of locally found rock, sand, and soil, iron, ceramic, wool felt, and plastic. Dimensions variable, NFS

Top left: Chelsea Dudley, Golden Field, watercolor,18"x22",$200.00

Top right: Chelsea Dudley, Floral Paradise, Watercolor,14"x17",$175.00

Bottom left: Chelsea Dudley, Blue Ridge Brookie, watercolor 12"x15", $175.00

Bottom right: Chelsea Dudley, Sienna Forest, watercolor, 14"x17", $175.00

Top left: Casey Murano, Returning to Watershed Discipleship 2, 24x24", colored pencil on paper (framed to 30x30") $300

Bottom left: Brinn Willis ‘Road to Petites Gap’, 8x10", wetplate photograph on tin

Right: F.W. Willis, Let Sleeping Gods Lie, Woodblock print, $175


Top: Brinn Willis ‘Straw Pond’, 20x16:, wetplate collodion fine art print

Bottom: Brittany Klinger Photography

Shadoe, Digital Photography, 11x14 frame 8x10 matte, $88

Top: Ephemera House, “A Forest is a Color,” digital art, 11x14", $300

Bottom: James Pannabecker, Breath-less, postage stamp collage, 11x14”, $1,300

Left: Brittany Klinger Photography, Milky Way Over Natural Bridge, Digital Photography, 11x14 frame 8x10 matte, $88
Right: Casey Murano, Energy Transparency, 19 1/4 x 23 1/2, oil on repurposed window from low-income home repair project $150

More information

Art is a Natural Bridge: Connecting art and environmental activism is an juried art exhibition and film festival at MidMountain Retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains, benefiting POWHR, Artivism VA, and MidMountain. 


For too long exploitative extraction of natural resources has devastated the mountains of Appalachia that many artists call home. And in many cases, that devastation turned artists into activists. 


In this show we will highlight works related to the constant connection between our natural world and the choices we must make to protect it, locally and globally. Artists working in 2-D, 3-D, and film/video media are invited to interpret that theme broadly while submitting work for consideration. Best in Show of 2-D, 3-D, and Film/Video submissions as well as People’s Choice will be awarded a complimentary two-night residency at the River Room at MidMountain Retreat. 


Accepted submissions will be exhibited in-person at MidMountain from April 13th through June 16th and online, with 85% of purchase price of sold pieces to artists. Flat art will be displayed at MidMountain in our main gallery room and inside our Post Office Community Center. Display opportunities indoors and outdoors for sculptural works of all sizes! 


A selection of accepted film and video works will also be screened in the Gallery or outdoors as part of a May 25 film festival, with reception for filmmakers, and a free community screening of the award-winning film King Coal


Accepted artists will also be invited to vend outdoors during opening and closing receptions on April 13 and June 16, keeping all personal proceeds. More information about the display areas and delivery/return logistics available below.


All submitted applications will be reviewed blind by multiple members of the jury and rated on a 10 point scale, 5 for applicability to the theme and 5 for artistic merit. The top rated 2-D, 3-D, and film/video submissions as determined by the jury will be awarded “Best in Show.” People’s Choice will be awarded based on in-person voting during the opening reception! 


Meet our jury: 

Hayes Brown is a writer and editor for MSNBC Daily, where he helps frame the news of the day for readers. He was previously at BuzzFeed News and holds a degree in international relations from Michigan State University.


Timeline:


About the partnering organizations:

MidMountain is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, collective and project in constant growth that believes in the power of people to reclaim space and caring for their neighbors. MidMountain operates from a five-acre retreat on the James River while organizing professional, creative development and artistic programming while seeking community input about interpreting the property’s past—which includes ties to colonization and human bondage. 


Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights (POWHR) is an interstate coalition representing individuals and groups from Virginia and West Virginia dedicated to protecting water, land, and communities from harms caused by the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, including the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). 

Artivism VA is creating a supported connection between Virginia artists & activists working for environmental justice with strategy, messaging, event & campaign production, music, spoken word, visual design, sound, videography & photography.

Spaces available for display:

MidMountain Gallery


Post Office Community Center

Non-climate controlled 18’x28’ interior room with 10' high ceilings, including ample room for large scale pieces on walls and freestanding sculpture.


Exterior Space

Nearly five acres with options to feature free standing sculpture on the lawn next to including on the main house, in the center of a budding botanical labyrinth, next to the Post Office Community Center, and more. Click here to find it on Google Maps. 


Logistics: