Art Among the Trees: An Invitation to Begin

There’s something deeply vulnerable about inviting people into a space that’s still in progress. Art Among the Trees is more than just an event we're hosting on Saturday, March 29th —it’s an experiment in embracing imperfection, in showing up before everything feels "ready." It’s an invitation to step into the process, rather than wait for the perfect moment to arrive.

When Joe first bought this house almost 30 years ago, it was officially categorized as "uninhabitable." His friends were worried for him. It was full of junk, the roof leaked, the well needed to be replaced, and the floors—now beautifully restored hardwood—were buried under layers of vinyl and glue. The land itself was tangled with briars and brambles, wild and untamed. It was overwhelming, frustrating, and sometimes downright hopeless. But we hung in there. Slowly, piece by piece, it transformed—not just the house, but us too. This house has been a vital part of our story, a third presence in our relationship. It is where we’ve healed, where we’ve built something with our own hands, where we’ve learned to value the process over some imaginary perfect future.

That’s the spirit behind Art Among the Trees. It’s not a pristine gallery space; it’s a patch of earth where ideas and art can take root, where people can gather in the woods and be themselves, where creativity doesn’t have to be polished or curated into perfection before it’s shared. This space—our home, our land—has always been a place of refuge, a place where people leave saying they feel good here, that the energy is different. Maybe it’s the history, maybe it’s the trees, maybe it’s the quiet hum of something older than us. Whatever it is, we’re offering it up—not as a finished product, but as a beginning.

So we invite you: step into this experiment with us. Whether you're an artist displaying work or someone simply coming to explore, set an intention to embrace the unfinished, the raw, the emerging. Can you let people see your wildness? Can you share your process before it’s fully formed? Can you allow yourself to begin, even when it feels wobbly, awkward, and messy?

Because life isn’t about waiting until everything is perfect. It’s about taking the first step, one thorny branch at a time, until a vision emerges from the thicket. Let people in. Let them be unsure for you, afraid for you, even embarrassed for you. That’s their burden to carry. Yours is to nurture the ember of your dream, to honor your creative impulse, to show up. And in doing so, you may forge more authentic connections, attract the right people, and offer an unconventional form of leadership to your community—one that says: Start where you are. Begin before you think you're ready.

We’re honored to have you join us in this experiment of art, community, and process. Let’s see what we can create together.

— Ruth & Joe, Art Among the Trees