By Courtney Oldwyn
Journal reporter
“Camas and chocolate lilies”, a pastel by San Juan island artist Nancy Spaulding is being displayed in Washington D.C. as part of the United States Botanic Garden exhibit.
The only pastel out of the 80 pieces chosen from hundreds of submissions showcasing the biodiversity of plants and landscapes in U.S. national parks, Spaulding’s piece depicts two native plant species, the camas and the chocolate lily, both found in San Juan Island National Historical Parks.
“I submitted two pieces and six weeks later heard they’d accepted this one,” said Spaulding “It was really exciting! I knew there were a lot of submissions but it was lovely to have this piece chosen because it’s one I particularly loved and it really represents the wild flowers at the park.”
In 2006 Spaulding set up her art supplies off the Redoubt road near South Beach, facing out over Griffin Bay with the intention of specifically portraying wildflowers in one of the island’s parks. “I’ve always been interested in wildflowers,” said Spaulding. “When I hike or walk I’m carrying guide books! I’m very interested in identifying plants and flowers.”
Blue camas was once an important food source for Native American residents of the island who periodically burned areas to ensure habitat for these flowers. The prairies at American Camp provide the sunny grasslands the flowers require, according to Spaulding.
Native throughout the Pacific Northwest, the Chocolate Lily is not a common flower but there is a small colony of them that bloom each year alongside the Camas in the grasslands at American Camp, according to Spaulding. “It’s so unusual and I love it’s lovely chocolatey rusty color.” she said.
Spaulding and her husband Lewis, also an artist, moved to San Juan Island in 1978 after taking a camping trip to the San Juan County Park and falling in love with the island. At the time the couple had two young daughters, Heather, currently a reporter at the Journal and Laurel, (not surprisingly both are named after plants) and were just starting to support their family by selling their handmade silk screen prints at craft fairs and trade shows around Western Washington. “When we realized that maybe we could make a living doing these shows we got really crazy and said lets move to San Juan Island,” said Spaulding.
Not knowing a soul on the island they bought property off Cattle Point road, moved from Lynden, Wash. and set to work building their art studio and home. They continued to do silk screening until 2000 when Lewis changed his focus to photography and Spaulding started working exclusively with pastels.
The couple still lives in the same home they built upon their move to the island almost 40 years ago. They’re working art space, Spaulding Studio, is also on the property and is open to the public. “The studio is mainly open in summer, and we put out a sign,” said Spaulding “But folks can call and come anytime.” The “Flora of the National Parks” exhibit will be on display at the National Mall in Washington D.C from Feb. 18 through Oct. 2. The Botanic Garden hopes to “inspire people to explore and value plants in their native habitats, especially at our amazing national parks,” according to Ari Novy, United States Botanic Garden executive director. To view the artwork at Spaulding Studio contact Nancy or Lewis Spaulding at 378-5594.
