We Belong With Nature is a community arts initiative that celebrates and deepens the relationship between humans and the more-than-human world through creative engagement with the natural environment of Killaloe Pathways Park. Rooted in ecological respect, community collaboration, and art-making, this project brings together local knowledge-keepers, artists, and community to explore and honour the native plant life of the park.
From April to October 2025, we will host three workshops that combine plant walks and art-making. The walks will be guided by local knowledge keepers, who will share information and cultural knowledge about plant life in the park. Following each walk, artist facilitators will lead art-making workshops inspired by the plant walks. These sessions are designed to foster intergenerational learning, connection with the land, and creative reflection.
Insights and artworks generated through these workshops will directly inform the design of three large-scale painted murals. These murals, created by the artist facilitators, will feature larger-than-life portraits of often-overlooked plants found in the park. The murals will be installed on the exterior walls of the heritage barn within the park, creating a focal point that honours the ecological richness of the area and the community’s connection to it. Interpretive signs will recognize the artists, project partners, funder and contextual information about the mural.
A key component of the project is the construction of a picnic shelter, which will serve as a gathering space for the workshops and future programming. The shelter will support outdoor learning, community events, and recreational use, providing shade and comfort for residents and visitors.
The project will culminate in October with a community celebration and mural unveiling event. We Belong With Nature is an invitation to build community and celebrate the natural world.
We Belong With Nature will have a lasting impact on our community. The project nurtures the essential relationship between humans and the more-than-human world—inviting participants to see local plants not just as scenery, but as living beings that share our ecosystem, stories, and histories. The project fosters a deeper sense of belonging, reciprocity, and respect for the land we live on.
An important aspect of this project is building cross-cultural relationships and community connections. Through collaboration with local plant knowledge keepers, the workshops will create space to share knowledge, experience, and perspectives. These intergenerational and intercultural conversations help bridge understanding, strengthen relationships, and support collective care for the land and one another.
The learning and creative opportunities will extend beyond the workshops themselves. Visitors to the park and local school groups will benefit from the murals as ongoing visual learning tools that highlight often-overlooked plant species and promote environmental awareness.
The project contributes to the ongoing beautification and enhancement of Killaloe Pathways Park (KPP). The creation and installation of the vibrant murals will enhance the heritage barn as a visual landmark celebrating local biodiversity and community creativity.
The construction of a picnic shelter will increase the park’s capacity to host outdoor gatherings, workshops, and events. This infrastructure will support not only this project, but future community programming, ensuring that KPP remains a hub for learning, connection, and celebration for years to come.
Together, these elements make We Belong With Nature an important step toward a more connected, informed, and resilient community—one that values both its human relationships and its place within the larger web of life.
support
Your voice matters. Show your support for submitted projects by leaving a comment, sharing your story or photo, or posting to social media. Every bit of encouragement helps communities grow stronger together.
OVCAOS is amazing . I especially loved when they built a huge eagles nest in a local Forest Park. I was thrilled by how people interacted with it. So inventive!
This would be wonderful for our community!
Grant funding would create lasting community impact through infrastructure, art, and most importantly, by connecting multi-generations with the natural world!
Art helps me find interior peace when everything around me seems to spin. Nature is grousing. Art and nature together help me stay sane and find the strength to keep going.
As a community, we desperately need spaces to connect~ especially those elevated by nature and art. This is all encompassing and will be such a gift.
An important aspect of life is to realize we are part of nature.
Virginia deCarle