The Newark Earthworks and Covered Bridges

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(December 26, 2016) The PreservArt Ohio Artists made a trip to Hebron, Oh. The sky was threatening rain but we decided to stop at Mound Builders Park.

The Newark Earthworks, also known as Mound Builders Park, is located in Newark and Heath, Ohio. It is an Ohio Historical Site that preserves this massive earthwork built by the Hopewell culture about 2000 years ago. It is an amazing relic of Native American culture. It shows that the Native Americans had knowledge of astronomy, math, and the natural world.

As in many cultures, religion drove many group activities. I stood in the center of the mound and imagined the ancient people watching the moon travel across the sky. Each day, each night, seeing patterns and passing that information along to the next generation. Each night was the rise and fall, birth and death, of a giant God in the sky. It must have seemed like magic.

Picture of earth mounds at Newark earthworks

© Sue Finch

We didn’t stay long. The sky Gods let the clouds open and allowed the rain to fall upon the mound. It was time to get our cameras out of the rain and head to lunch.

After lunch in Lancaster the sun had come out again so we decided to visit a couple of the covered bridges in the area.

Historic Rockmill was our first stop. Restoration of this historic 1901 mill is almost complete. The mill and waterfall are the big attractions there, but the Rockmill Covered Bridge is also very nice.

Side view of Rockmill covered bridge.

© Sue Finch

View of Rockmill, waterfall, and bridge

© Sue Finch

We then headed up to Slate Run and visited the historic covered bridge that was originally built in 1885. It was relocated in 1967 and then donated and relocated to the Metro park in 1998.

front view of covered bridge.

The clouds parted for a short while today out at Slate Run Metro Park. It is hard to believe it is December when the temperatures are in the upper 60’s. © Sue Finch

Christmas Walk Event Announcement 2016

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Christmas Walk at the Lancaster Camp Grounds

Come visit the PreservArt Ohio artists, Sue Finch and Julia Burnside, at the Lancaster Camp Ground 15th Annual Christmas Walk, on Dec. 2nd & 3rd from 4:30 – 8:00. We will have beautiful scenic photographic art available for purchase.

The event will feature PreservArt Ohio and 35 other vendors in the activity building with us. Santa Claus, local artist Verne Ayers painting a two-day mural, Caleb Wakefield will give you a massage and there will be hot soup and sandwiches. It is a perfect opportunity for you to finish all of your Christmas shopping.

The Christmas Walk is 58 acres of decorated cottages, and historic buildings, live nativity drama, a Gift Shop, Candlelight dinner (by reservation), home tours, and musicians.

The event is located at 2151 W. Fair Ave., the corner of W. Fair Ave. & Ety Road.

Go to www.lancastercampground.com for more info.

Rock House

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I am sitting at Panera eating a bagel and listening to pipped in music. The plan is to write about my recent trip to Rock House with my fellow PreservArt Ohio photographer Sue Finch. It has been a month or so since my last photo hike. A not so graceful tumble at my own home left me with a dented behind and bruised pride. I was ready to get moving.

With an eye of the tiger attitude I put my camera in the back of Sue’s Prius and nodded to her husband, Mike. We were on a mission to get a great low light picture of the inside of The Rock House.

Rock House was used by ancient Indians as shelter and now is a tourist attraction. It is a marvelous place to take the family.

The trick to getting the shot is to get there after sunup and before the tourists, families, and yoga people. We didn’t beat the yoga people. They are just so fit and happy early people. They don’t seem to want to rush. They also don’t understand the light issues that we have to work with. I am an artist, dang it. How can I work like this?

We walked into the cave and realized that we forgot it is dark in the cave and we didn’t bring flashlights. It is strange how low light photography works like that. The yoga people didn’t forget. They had light and happy early people attitude.

I should take up yoga. Add it to the list.

It is a good thing that Mike is always prepared and had an app for the situation. I am glad he was there. I was in no position to re-dent my behind.

We set up our cameras and worked on our shots. I think it was a success. The PreservArt Ohio artists overcame poor memory, low light, yoga people, and got the shot. It is a great feeling when the prey that you capture is the beauty of Ohio.

Rock House Gallery

2016-09-25 Rock House

2016-09-25 Rock House Artist Julia Burnside

Two Doorways Artist Sue Finch

Two Doorways Artist Sue Finch

Julia is a writer and photographer that likes hiking Ohio’s natural areas and not denting her behind in the process.

Stages Pond Dragonfly Program 8/13/16

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Stages Pond, located in Ashville, OH, is 178 acres of prairie, marsh, and woodlands.

Three years ago, we visited Stages Pond. It was beautiful, but rough. Non-native species such as Autumn Olive and Multi-Flora Rose made it impossible to find native species. Some areas were so thick it was nearly impassable.  It was bad, but there were areas that we could tell were in the process of restoration. The Ohio Department of Natural Areas and Preserves have removed many of the non-native invasive species and native plants are returning from seed stored in the soil seed bank.

This past weekend, the PreservArt Ohio photographers had the pleasure of joining a group hike offered by DNAP and led by Jim Osborn, Jason Duchon, and Judd Clover. We were amazed by how much had been accomplished is three short years. The area around the pond now contains Ohio native plants. Dragonflies, butterflies, and bees flew past us and enjoyed the Swam Milkweed and Hibiscus.

We were happy. In the short time that we were there we saw more Monarch butterflies than we had seen all season. Three years prior we were swatting mosquitoes. During this visit, we did not see one. The guides told us that this was because of the dragonfly population. Imagine that, a healthy environment will keep mosquito populations down.

We will have to go back and visit. The DNAP web site has it listed as a Kettle Pond. It will soon be corrected. It is actually a pond, created by glacial melt. As the glacier started to retreat, a section broke and water gushed through the fissure like a waterfall. That water acted like a drill, churning the soil and sediment below and leaving a water filled depression. While both types of ponds are created by a glacier, they are created by different mechanisms. We do not know when the official description will be changed, but it is coming. DNAP is still a state run entity so change will not happen quickly. There are signs to change, and papers to present…

Highlight of the Hike: Ohio Native Species, Swamp Milkweed, Monarch Butterflies, Insect, Birds, Restored Marsh Habitat, DNAP Guides, Glacier created pond and other signs of glacier activity

Hike rating: Worth going back.

Hike conditions: Easy hike, mostly flat, expect humidity, watch out for the poison ivy.

Walk A New Path ArtBreak show

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Join PreservArt Ohio at the ArtBreak in Logan, Ohio for their exhibit:
“Walk A New Path”

Featuring the nature photography of

Julia Burnside, Sue Finch and Cheryl Todd

ArtBreak
44 West Main Street
Logan, Ohio

The exhibit will be on display:

Saturday, May 21st 12-5
Saturday, May 28th 10-5
Saturday, June 4th 12-5
Wash Board Festival from June 16-18th.

Special events include:

Book signing with Sue Finch and her book
“365: Preserving a Year with Pictures”
May 28th from 11 to 2

Book signing with Mike Ghere and his fantasy series

“Broken Worlds.” May 28th from 11 to 2

For more information contact:
PreservArtOhio@yahoo.com

www.facebook.com/PreservArtOhio

Places You Can Read a Book

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Reading a book is one of the great pleasures in life. Finding time to read can be challenging. The PreservArt Ohio artists have a passion for reading.  We are devoting time to create a series of photographs to promote reading. Luckily, we have the permission of Sue Finch and Mike Ghere to use their books in this series.

Sue Finch is the author of 365: Preserving a Year with Pictures.

Mike Ghere is the author of the Broken Worlds fantasy series.

Book 1  The Colors of Change

Book 2  Doorways and Despair

Book 3  Patterns in the Cracks

You can purchase their books on Amazon and a book signing at the ArtBreak.

Book Signing:  Saturday, May 28, 2016, 11 am to 2 pm.

Let us know your favorite book and where you like to read.

Visit our Facebook page and post a picture of yourself reading a book. We would love to see it.

You can see the work of the PreservArt artists at the ArtBreak and in the Women at Work Show at the Bowen House in Logan, OH. For more information please visit their Show page .

Bowen House

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PreservArt Ohio artists Sue Finch and Cheryl Todd will be exhibiting in the Women at Work show at the Bowen House in Logan, Ohio. The show runs from May 21st to May 30th. and will be open Wednesday to Saturday 2-5. Come on down and visit. If you are there on a Saturday you can stop in at our ArtBreak show as well.

Bowen House

196 North Market Street

Logan, OH.

Shallenberger State Nature Preserve

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This preserve is an easy drive from Lancaster, Ohio. located 4 miles southwest of Lancaster on U.S. Route 22. Turn right on  Beck’s Knob Road. The parking lot will be on your right about 1/4 mile down the road. The hiking trails take you to the base of Ruble Knob and around and to the top of Allen Knob.  There is a nice view from the top of Allen Knob, and a large collection of spring wildflowers along the trails. The back side of Allen knob has a nice display of Large Flowered Trillium, Rue Anemone, Hepatica and other wild flowers in season. Recently the PreservArt Ohio group taught a wildflower photography program at the park.

 

Saltpetre Cave State Nature Preserve

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Tucked away from view is a place called Salt Petre Cave State Nature Preserve. It is a permit only preserve located off of Big Pine Road in Hocking County. There is a weathered path through pine trees that lead to some amazing rock formations. There are three large recess cave areas.

Follow the rock wall to the left and through a cut in the rocks, and you will find the most cave-like formation. Bring a flashlight, and explore the recess.  It is deep, and the walls are covered with the white potassium nitrate for which the cave is named. The caves were mined for salt petre in the 1800’s.

Follow the trail back the way you came, and follow the rock formation to the end. Go around the end of the rock wall, and follow the edge of the cliff to the steps.  Follow this set of steps down. To both the left and right of the steps are recess caves.

To the left is also a waterfall that has a wonderful flow after a rain. To the right is also a waterfall and appears to have a flow during all but the driest of weather.

Great care must be given about safety. The fragile rock formations can be damaged and a fall on the steep rocks could be devastating.

 

For more information please visit the ODNR page.