Art

Item Description

The Electric Forest Mapmakers Program invited four artists to create maps of the event live at Electric Forest 2016, a music, art, and camping festival held annually in Rothbury, MI. Each one-of-a-kind map is now being auctioned to benefit the Electric Forest Music In Schools Program, which supports music education in and around Rothbury, MI.

Creation Location: Between Sherwood Forest and The Hangar at Electric Forest 2016

Artist: Cody Hughes

Canvas Size: 36"x48"

Artist Statement - Cody Hughes

When I first got news that I would be attending electric forest I was ecstatic. I wanted to come to the forest with the intentions of letting my self be completely vulnerable to what it had to offer. My spirit was seeking a new kind of inspiration. It was looking to catch fire.

I spent the first day just completely taking everything in. Everything was incredibly stimulating from one end to another and I could feel my child like sense of curiosity and excitement coming alive. It was all such a breath of fresh air. Even when inhaling the forest dust. It wasn't until the second day I began to develop a vision for what I wanted to create and from there the wheel started to turn and  my excitement grew.

For this map I wanted to create a self portrait to reflect my experience. I hope everybody can find them selves in it as well. Like I first said, my idea was to let my self be vulnerable to everything the forest had to offer. To give into the chaos. We dive into the abstract to bring about and realize form. With form we can develop words and bring about a collected understanding to connect on. The abstract reflects emotions feelings and energy. Words tend to lose their grasp here yet also tend to form a deeper connection. An understanding for what we can't explain, but what we feel. That's when we dance. On his face you can see bliss. He feels enlightened, he feels happy, he feels free. He takes it all in and let's it all and him self go to become a part of everything around him. To learn and grow. To become part of something bigger. He is one, he is free. He is my experience and my mirror. He is the forest.

During the creation of this map I kept having strangers who would later become new friends enjoy throwing a stroke of their own into the abstract. The smiles on their faces from doing so kept my heart feeling light. I wanted them to all be a part of it. Being able to hear there stories as I painted and moving to the incredible power that the artist on stage unleashed was all such great fuel that kept me going. To all move together and be connected by the same sounds and experience was truly a special sight to behold and be a part of. I'll never forget what it all made me feel.

I'm now home back in my own forest, a lot less electricity here. I thought by now I'd be feeling some post forest blues. I'm happy to say that I feel more alive than ever. My spirit was looking to catch fire and it has. I feel revitalized down to every sense. I now see the forest as not just something you go to and come back from. It's something that's meant to stay with you and to be carried on. I am most humbled grateful and honored that I got to enjoy all this time with you. Until we meet again. Much love and happy forest!

About the Electric Forest Music In Schools Program

Electric Forest’s Music In Schools Program has supported local music education since 2012. Each year, thousands of dollars are donated to help keep music part of the curriculum in Michigan public schools.

By donating money and instruments to local school music programs, Electric Forest is bridging the gap between diminishing school budgets and music program resource needs. The Music In Schools Program also offers hands-on experiences to music students including performance opportunities at the festival, as well as on-site mentor opportunities, where students interested in music production “shadow” Electric Forest professionals during the event.

After all, Electric Forest’s home should be a place of musical discovery year-round!

Click here to learn more about the Music In Schools Program

Item Special Note

Shipping and packaging are not included, please budget $75 to cover these expenses.