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Art, Nature, and Mindfulness: A Week of Discovery in the Blue Ridge Mountains
From June 22 to 28, 2025, the quiet mountain village of Criglersville, Virginia, became the backdrop for an immersive week of artistic growth, reflection, and community. Hosted at Possum’s Store, a historic general store turned creative hub, the Workshop in Visual Arts welcomed four advanced students for a full-scholarship experience unlike any other.
Under the direction of Renee Balfour, an award-winning painter and woodworker and founder of Community Art Works, the program brought together nationally recognized faculty and talented young artists for a week that blended rigorous studio practice with mindfulness, nature immersion, and personal transformation.
A Curriculum Rooted in Creativity and Care
The week’s curriculum offered students two core workshops, each led by a practicing artist and educator with decades of experience. Renee Balfour guided students through advanced oil painting techniques while Gary Colson, founder of Carvers Studio for the Creative Arts in Culpeper, taught students to transform drawings and clay maquettes into three-dimensional stone sculptures.
Throughout the week, Lori Bedotto, a certified health and wellness coach and massage therapist, introduced students to mindfulness techniques designed to deepen their creative practice. Her sessions included yoga, guided meditation, nature hikes, and group conversations about maintaining balance in both art and life.
Art, Shared
On Friday, June 27, the community gathered at Possum’s Store for a public exhibition of student work, followed by artist talks and a hands-on art-making workshop led by the students themselves. Family members, neighbors, and art lovers from across the region joined in an evening of conversation and creativity.
The reception offered a glimpse into the intense creative journey the students had undertaken over the previous five days. Guests admired oil paintings, delicately carved stone sculptures, sketchbooks full of experimentation, and works that defied categorization. “It was inspiring to see such clarity and confidence in such young artists,” one visitor remarked.
Lasting Impact
Possum’s Store, which Ms. Balfour has transformed into a venue for exhibitions and performances, once again proved itself to be more than a building. It became a space where rural heritage met contemporary practice, and where students—encouraged by master artists and supported by community—found the freedom to take risks and grow.
