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Ongoing Experience
THE TIMID WILD
Nature and wilderness. We pin ourselves somewhere on their spectrums relative to how sterilized and commodified we feel in comparison. Timidness in the first muddy steps through tall grasses as we search for belonging. Co-created meaning with each other, yes, but also with something beyond the constraints of HUMAN. Trembling hands and thumping hearts under the gaze of living things that expect nothing of us, hold us to no fabricated standards, express kinship with us unconditionally, assess us with caution, or ignore us entirely.
*please note that this project is a work in progress. each space is updated periodically as images, videos, and other field recordings and content are processed. This project will also always remain free for public access in its entirety.
The Timid Wild is a project that explores:
The Research
The next phase of this project is an in-depth exploration of the "Nature Gap", the systemic and structural denial of accessibility to nature and wilderness spaces targeting marginalized communities in the United States. How are our communities affected? What can we do about it?
An immersive multi-media experience weaving together field recordings, soundscapes & original compositions, spoken word & quotations, and more. The stories we tell and are told about the worlds around us and our place in them, under them, over them.
The Film
The Spaces
Welcome to Ohio.
All current Timid Wild documentation was captured or created in central Ohio on forcibly ceded, unceded, and outright stolen land originally cared for by many Indigenous and Native American groups, including but likely not limited to the Adena, Shawandasse Tula, Myaamia, Kaskaskia, Ofo, and Hopewell (the name of a white man, not the actual group) peoples. Due to the lack of awareness, productive conversation, and restorative action around the intense violent history of white settler colonialism in the United States, it is also important to acknowledge the centuries of erasure and oppression Indigenous groups face on this land. We must honor Indigenous ancestors, their living descendants, and also the many nations, tribes, and groups who we have lost, both named and unnamed.
Unfortunately, land acknowledgments like this are not enough, especially given the social climate in the United States and so many other countries in this current day, so please consider starting or continuing the process of learning about Indigenous culture and rights:
THE BIORESERVE
The Denison Biological Reserve, known to students and locals simply as "the Bioreserve", is a 350-acre expanse of forest, ponds, old plantations, and other natural features located in Granville, Ohio.
This project has documented the Bioreserve through photography, audio recordings, and poetry since 2019.
THE DAWES ARBORETUM
The Dawes Arboretum was established in 1929 by Beman Dawes and his wife, Bertie and created as a private foundation: “To encourage the planting of forest and ornamental trees… to give pleasure to the public and education to the youth.”
CUYAHOGA VALLEY NP
Cuyahoga Valley is Ohio's only national park and encompasses around 33,000 acres of land in northeast Ohio.
"History runs deep in the valley, with over 12,000 years of human occupation. From the unwritten stories of prehistoric peoples to the environmental disasters and comebacks of modern times, humans have left an impact on the valley. Here along the Cuyahoga River, humans have used, shaped, and been shaped by the landscape. Culture and nature interplay here, with each having its impact on the other."
URBAN PORTALS
Multi-dimensional.
Where could we go?
How can we orient ourselves - stay in conversation with ourselves - in the spaces beyond and between?
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
learn more about wildlife, ecology, and opportunities for exploration and activsim in Ohio & beyond
this list is updated periodically - if you have suggestions for inclusion, please email hello@lashondalove.com
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
While the entire website is a must-explore for any Ohioan (or anyone interested in Ohio), the "Discover and Learn" tab includes a wealth of information on animals, plants and trees, and geology of Ohio as well as sections on Ohio land and water, educational opportunities, and conservation information.
"Ohio Nature Education is a private non-profit volunteer organization which provides a home for over forty wild animals that can no longer live in the wild. We incorporate these animals into environmental education programs for people of all ages. Our customers include schools, Scout troops, libraries, garden clubs, senior centers, metro parks, and community centers. Our programs include live education animals and collections of study skins, nests, and other natural materials useful as aids in learning about nature. We are able to utilize different formats for our programs— both in-person and virtual— and can customize for groups of any size and age range."
"The Dawes Arboretum is dedicated to enriching lives through the conservation of trees, nature, and history." And they have plenty of programming and events to show for it, too. Utilize the "Arboretum Explorer" (accessible via the Arboretum Map section on the "Visit" drop-down) to see an expansive array of tree and shrub collections including both native plants and plants from around the world. The "Learn" section on the "Visit" drop-down also includes a wide range of events and opportunities available to those interested in learning more.