Artists Utilize Pennsylvania’s Rivers as Inspiration for Their Creative Works

Montoursville, Pennsylvania – The shores of Loyalsock Creek present a muted palette of browns and grays enhanced by the occasional flurry of yellow and orange leaves dancing across the turbulent waters on a blustery November day. For some, these natural hues may not captivate the eye, but for Sierra Weir, an artist based in Pittsburgh, they represent an ongoing dialogue with nature that transcends traditional aesthetics.

Weir, a pigment artist with a background in biochemistry, approaches the natural world from a unique perspective, continuously exploring the depths of color found in the organic environment. She is also the community outreach coordinator for the Three Rivers Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio Rivers. This dual focus on art and environmental advocacy allows her to fuse creativity with ecological awareness.

Recently, Weir, alongside two other artists, was selected for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s new artist-in-residency program titled “Reflections through Art: Inclusive Access on Water Trails in the Susquehanna Basin.” This program aims to engage the public with environmental themes through artistic expression.

The initiative seeks to connect individuals to their natural surroundings via art. “It’s a new way to get people to engage with the environment,” Weir remarked. Painter Spencer Verney, known for his work focusing on preserved lands and waterways, and Meg Lemieur, responsible for illustrating a map of the Swatara Creek Watershed, were also selected as residents under this program.

Lemieur captures the diversity of flora and fauna within her work, drawing inspiration from various living organisms, including turtles, owls, and gophers. Tali MacArthur, senior program manager for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, emphasized the program’s goal to involve people uninterested in traditional conservation roles, such as scientists or fishermen, by appealing to those who connect with art and music.

Funded by the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Gateways Grant Program and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnership Program, the residency aims to serve as a bridge for communities to engage with watershed conservation in an accessible manner.

Weir, 28, aims to enhance public awareness of the interconnectedness of water, earth, and the surrounding environment. Through her art, she encourages individuals to hone their “noticing skills” and cultivate a renewed relationship with nature. By emphasizing our biological and chemical connections to the environment, she strives to reignite a passion for the natural world that has often been overshadowed in modern society.