Wild Materials: Transforming Found Objects into Art – rescheduled

Please note: this event has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 23, 1:00 – 4:00 PM.

Sticks, stones, shells, seeds, feathers, bark, river glass, found objects, fibers, paint… 

Using a playful mix of natural materials and unexpected treasures, we’ll come together to create art. A selection of recycled wooden cigar boxes will be provided for you to choose from and transform. You don’t need to bring anything—however, you’re welcome to bring small personal objects if you’d like to incorporate them into your piece. 

Each participant will select a cigar box that will become the stage for imagination and playful making. Our instructor, Lauren J. Silver, will open the workshop with a brief introduction to her found-object artmaking practice. Together, we’ll discuss our intentions for the workshop, then settle into plenty of time to relax, experiment, have fun, and create side by side. 

This workshop is beginner-friendly, and no prior art or assemblage experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to explore. 

Please note: we uphold “Leave No Trace” practices at our preserves, meaning we take only memories with us. This policy will remain in place during the workshop. We encourage participants to bring found objects from home, as no materials will be collected from the preserve during the event. 

About the instructor: Lauren J. Silver is a Philadelphia-based, mixed-medium artist and critical childhood studies educator. Her art draws upon found and reclaimed objects and assemblage approaches using fragments, fibers, scraps, gifts from nature, and discarded objects—mending them into something beautiful and whole. Lauren has been showing her art since 2022 across the Philadelphia region.