The making of “Thrive!”

In 2022 the members of the Mutual Reawakening Collaborative held an open call for photographers to visually tell the story of each of the nine essentials of health.  We received almost 100 entries including more than 500 photographs or digital art.  Through a multi-stage jurying and curation process, 45 photographs created by 23 artists were selected and combined to tell a visual story of healthy people and a healthy planet.  The resulting work speaks to reconnecting us with nature and each other.  They are touchstones of the valuable present worth taking forward into a flourishing future.

The Collaborative knew from our own experiences that reconnecting within the natural world had changed our perspectives.  For this exhibition, we sought to provide health center visitors, patients, and staff with a respite in nature through the photographs, accompanied by an immersive natural soundscape, and an area to sit, relax and reflect.  Research shows that we humans tend to seek places of refuge where we have a clear vista of ‘what’s out there’.  With the help of Downtown Home and Garden of Ann Arbor, we have created such a place.

We can also connect with nature through our memories.  Favorite natural places that we bring back to mind can refresh and comfort us.  Our regional map invites your memories, giving you a voice to share with others, by posting to your own social media and taking a brief survey to tell us your story.

Finally, the University of Michigan’s Museum of Natural History loaned us vintage models and unusual natural elements from their extensive collections. These wonderful objects were paired with a diverse world of human figures from Michigan Gifts of Art’s Tiny Galleries to portray an expanded view of biodiversity and community. 

We hope you find respite, memories, hope, and joy as you experience the variety of visual and audio works. May this carry the seeds of a flourishing and livable world where humans and nature coexist for the better health of all beings.