A Studio in the Woods to celebrate 50 years with 9th annual FORESTival

This year's FORESTival: A Celebration of Art and Nature will take place Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and will honor the 50th anniversary of A Studio in the Woods. (Photo provided by A Studio in the Woods)

A Studio in the Woods’ 9th annual FORESTival: A Celebration of Art and Nature will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16 and will honor the 50th anniversary of the purchase of the studio’s land by founders Joe and Lucianne Carmichael. Additionally, the celebration will commemorate the construction of a new space for artists, the Writer’s Cabin.

A Studio in the Woods, a program of Tulane’s ByWater Institute, is dedicated to preserving the endangered bottomland hardwood forest and focuses on interrelated areas of programming including artistic and scholarly residencies, forest restoration, and science-inspired art education.

“We are excited to throw open our doors to the community and celebrate 50 years of our caring for this land and it caring for us. Our founders felt this place’s power to inspire and heal when they purchased it in 1969 and FORESTival is when we get to share that unique magic with everyone,” Ama Rogan, managing director of A Studio in the Woods, said.

FORESTival will be held from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and will feature music by Lost Bayou Ramblers, Panorama Brass Band, Blake Amos and Nancy Burtchaell. Food will be provided by Faubourg Farms, Pirogues and Quintin’s Natural Ice Cream. The festival will also feature presentations by resident and guest artists including Monica Haller and Sebastian Muellauer, Geraldine Laurendeau and Jonathan “rat de bois farouche” Mayers, Margaret Pearce, and Antenna’s Draw-a-thon. Environmental artist panel discussion organized by Swiss Touch and Green Light New Orleans with Anne Blenker, Hannah Chalew, Miro Hoffmann, and Michel Varisco will also take place. The New Orleans Center for the Gulf South will present the Anthropocene River Campus basecamp, with offerings and activities by Ryan Clarke, Mareli Sanchez Julia and Kristina Kay Robinson.

Additionally, a silent auction, walks in the woods with Tulane scientists and art activities for children will be a part of the festival.

Tickets are $15 for adults and kids can attend for free. Early bird admission for $10 will be from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. and bird tour will be at 10:30 a.m. A Studio in the Woods is located in Lower Algiers at 13401 Patterson Rd. and overflow parking along with a shuttle will be available at 9201 Patterson Rd. For more information, visit www.astudiointhewoods.org.