Nature School in Brooklyn Helps New Yorkers Connect with Urban Ecology
In the hustle and bustle of New York City, it can be easy to overlook the natural beauty that surrounds us. However, Field Meridians, an artist collective in Brooklyn, is on a mission to help harried New Yorkers stop and smell the flowers – quite literally.
Their six-month program, Nature School, aims to bring the city’s natural environment into focus for its residents. Through a series of workshops led by local artists, participants are encouraged to notice and appreciate the nature that exists within the city limits.
One recent workshop, titled “Stitching Our Experience,” led by artist Megumi Shauna Arai, brought together a diverse group of individuals at the Brower Park Library in Crown Heights. Participants, ranging from 36-year-old Rita Troyer to 85-year-old Shirley Cox, gathered to learn the art of sewing appliqués on silk fabrics.
For many, the workshop provided a moment of peace and connection with nature in the midst of the urban landscape. Ms. Cox, a retired quality-assurance specialist, shared her love for nature and the outdoors, instilled in her by her family’s gardening traditions.
Ms. Badger, another participant, found inspiration during a meditative walk in the park and decided to sew flowers on her fabric, symbolizing the raw beauty of nature.
For Ms. Arai, leading workshops like these is a way to find fulfillment and peace in a busy city. She believes that moments of connection and presence can be found anywhere, even in the heart of New York City.
As participants sewed in an adapted version of the Japanese sashiko stitching style, they not only learned a new skill but also found a sense of community and connection with the natural world around them.
Through programs like Nature School, Field Meridians is helping to keep residents of Crown Heights connected to the ecology of the city, one stitch at a time.
