Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center

During this year-long residency, Jessica guided participants in the practice of meditation painting as a way of entering into conversation with the landscape. Through monthly gatherings, the workshops became a communal space for observing, sharing, and reflecting on the native habitat as it changed through the seasons.

Drawing inspiration from ecologists, naturalists, and theologians, as well as direct encounters with the natural world, participants engaged in a process of setting aside preconceived ideas and cultivating deep attention. Meditation painting became a practice of deep listening to our wild spaces, and to the interconnected systems of which we are a part.

The experience was often transformative, revealing connections between inner and outer landscapes that are easily overlooked in the fast-pace of contemporary life. By slowing down, breathing, and paying attention, participants fostered a deeper sense of belonging, community, and appreciation for the unique ecological richness of the region.