Sylvan Arts Revival is the culmination of my life’s work in the field of ecology, restoration, and creative expression. I have a BA in Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Community from New College of California, a Permaculture Designers Certificate from the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, as well as numerous other trainings under my belt from ecology giants such as Paul Stamets, Dr. Elaine Ingham, and Dr. Lee Klinger. In recent years the latter has taken a front seat in my practice restoring oak trees utilizing his protocol of Sudden Oak Life. This work also aligns with my commitment to decolonization, as it is part of a broader effort to revive native stewardship practices across the globe. Ground zero for the SOL trainings currently is Indian Canyon, a safe haven for Ohlone/Coastanoan peoples for centuries and the only federally recognized indigenous territory between the Bay Area and Santa Barbara. This approach to forest/tree restoration is also being embraced by the Essalen Tribe of Monterey County.

Throughout all my years as an ecologist, I’ve also been deeply immersed in Celtic spirituality, and have been whittling about as an amateur fine wood worker. This craft has finally reached a point where I am ready to make it part of my professional offering. My preferred style is in recreating early La Téne style spiral works in wood, as well as Fibonacci based mathematical designs. Please see my Wood Work page for more details. Part of my devotion to Celtic spirituality is as a carnyx player. I am the carrier of one of the few replicas of the Iron Age Loughnashade trumpa from Northern Ireland, pictured here.

Photo by Wolf Mercury Photography. SAR is part of the Black Wings Arts Collective.