The poetry of earth is never dead
February 23, 2021 marks the 200 year anniversary of the death of John Keats. Although his life was short, he has had an outsized influence …
Author: John Lechner
I am a writer, artist, animator, puppeteer, and interactive designer.
Trees and plants in storytelling
I’ve written on this website about trees before, they permeate the arts throughout history. There were trees in early cave paintings, and they appear in …
Two great poets of nature
I began this year with high hopes of posting on this blog often, but life got in the way. Not that there hasn’t been a …
Last of the Curlews, a book for the ages
There are some nonfiction books that encompass themes far beyond their particular subject matter. Last of the Curlews by Fred Bodsworth is one of those …
Unfinished Earth – music inspired by nature
Nature has provided inspiration for countless musicians over the centuries. Award-winning composer Douglas Knehans has just released a new CD entitled Unfinished Earth, which evokes …
Winter in the untended garden
Hello nature friends, welcome back to my blog! I’ve been taking a break from here lately, as other projects have pulled me away. The original …
Tending the untended garden, and appreciating small moments in nature
The Untended Garden has been truly untended lately. I’ve been focusing on other writing projects this year, and it’s been hard to find time for …
Maria Schneider, music inspired by nature
Jazz composer Maria Schneider draws much of her inspiration directly from nature. Her latest recording, The Thompson Fields, is inspired by the prairies where she …
Artists supporting nature
I’ve been neglecting this blog in recent months, as I’ve been trying to focus on my art and writing. Thank you to all my loyal …
The magical Strandbeests – art comes alive
The kinetic sculptures of Theo Jansen are unlike anything else in the world. They seem to defy category, they are art and machine, but also …