This week we will be exploring the ambient sounds observed around the farm and within the forest. It is amazing what the brain filters out of our daily lives. Shhhh!
🎧 Listening to the Land
This week at Longview Farm, we’ve been tuning in—not just to the work, but to the sounds around us. I have walked the trails in the forest across from the farm a hundred times and every one of those times I hear a different symphony of sounds. The staccato chirping of crickets, alerts of a distant Blue jay, and rustling of leaves on the gentle breeze create the music of Nature. Take a few moments every day to be still and allow the surroundings to envelop you in waves of sound.
During the Dragonflies United wellness workshop, Aaron Brown recorded the soundscape of the farm while documenting the guided nature walk and gallery meditation. His recordings captured the subtle layers of our environment—the ambient hum of life that often goes unnoticed but never unfelt.
Aaron’s putting together a follow-up post with audio clips and reflections from the event, so stay tuned for that.
🌿 Grounding Through Creative Practice
Our focus on sound this week gave me space to reflect on how I’ve been grounding myself—through nature walks, foraging, meditation, creative writing, photography, and creative direction.
Writing more often has brought quiet moments—crickets chirping outside, the breeze through the open window, and last night’s gust of wind that made the curtains dance and filled the house with excited chatter.
Wind is the main character in this arena. The top of the hill is her domain, and her word rules.
Longview Alive! has also rekindled my love for photography. It started with closeups of nature using just my phone camera. That is until…
I feel like you can hear the silence of the gallery in these shots.
I dusted off my Canon Rebel for the first time in years to photograph the final days of the KAMI nature-inspired art exhibit in our gallery!
I noticed that a spider spun her web around Kiya Nicole’s winding ceramic installation—in perfect collaboration with the art.
📸 Creative Direction Rooted in Shared Values
In the final moments before KAMI came down, we asked the team to reflect on how their work connects to our three core principles: Human, Art, and Earth. Here is just some of what they shared:
These reflections are the heartbeat of Longview. They shape the way we lead, create, and connect.
We are ending our Year of Yin 2025 line up of featured artist exhibits with 3 more heavy hitters; this trio of fine artists behind our next exhibit, Triple Vision, already have a foothold in the NYC art scene and are no strangers to showing alongside one another.
Save the Date | Triple Vision
You’re invited to view our next exhibit at its opening reception on Saturday, September 6th.
We are so honored to have the chance to curate and hang the works of Shelly, Murray, and Sedor. Mark your calendars for 9/6 at 5p.m.
🌱 Outro: Creative Energy in Motion
This week has reminded me that creativity doesn’t always need a plan—it just needs space. Whether through walking, photography, writing, creative direction or curation, I’m learning to listen for the silent moments and hear the creative call.
What sounds are shaping your season? We’d love to hear your reflections—or better yet, come visit Longview Farm and experience the rhythm of the land for yourself.
Until next time, stay alive and visit Longview Farm!
Produced by Longview Farm for visitlongviewfarm.com
Written by Jessi Stead
Photography by Aaron Brown, Jessi Stead, and Patrick Seyler
