The year 2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the CZU Fire that destroyed homes and lives and left years of heartache and turmoil in its wake.
Locals are encouraged to turn away from the trauma at the “Healing Through Art & Community” event Saturday, Aug. 16, from 1-4pm at the Felton Library, a collaboration between California State Parks, Felton Library Friends and the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
This all-ages event honors the community and its resilience through art, film, music and more. The event will feature art installations (including interactive art) and short films from artists involved in Big Basin Art About, as well as free refreshments.
State Parks will have a “Reimagining Big Basin” information booth, and there will be plenty to see and do at the event. Offerings include a “Cycles” interactive sound art for teens in the Teen Room, a Community Poetry Circle for adults on the patio, Library Ranger story time for families with State Parks staff and craft activity with Felton Librarian, and music from Sugar By the Pound on the patio.
In addition, there will be a CZU Fire Community Memory Table at the library during August. Attendees are invited to add a picture, an item or a note about their CZU Fire experience.
The Big Basin Art About is a vibrant and visionary project born from the inspiration of Arts in California Parks—a groundbreaking initiative by California State Parks that celebrates the power of art to connect people to nature in fresh and unexpected ways. By inviting artists to interpret California’s most iconic outdoor spaces, the program encourages deeper exploration, emotional engagement and renewed appreciation for the state’s natural and cultural heritage.
In 2023, Big Basin Redwoods State Park—still in the process of healing and renewal following the devastating CZU Lightning Complex Fire of 2020—welcomed a remarkable new chapter in its story. For the first time since the fire, 18 talented regional artists were selected for a guided backpacking journey deep into the heart of Big Basin. This trip wasn’t just a physical exploration—it was a profoundly personal and creative one. Each artist brought their own relationship with the park, their memories and their vision for its future.
After their immersive experience in the recovering forest, these artists channeled their reflections into original works of art, each in their chosen medium—ranging from painting and sculpture to photography, poetry and mixed media. The result was a compelling collection of pieces that speak not only to loss and transformation, but to resilience, hope and the power of renewal.
These works were unveiled at Art in the Park: Big Basin on June 15, 2024—a joyful and emotional celebration of creativity, community and the enduring spirit of the redwoods. But their journey doesn’t end there. The art will continue to inspire as it travels throughout Santa Cruz County on public display through 2025, allowing even more people to experience Big Basin’s story through the eyes and hearts of artists.
More than just beautiful expressions, the Big Basin Art About pieces invite all who see them to reimagine Big Basin—not just as it was, but as it can be: a park shaped by sustainability, inclusivity and thoughtful stewardship. Through the lens of art, visitors are encouraged to engage with the landscape in new ways, envision a better future for local parks and become part of Big Basin’s continuing transformation for generations to come.
Artist Laura Fogg created the “New Growth” interactive quilt that will be on display at the event.
“My assumption, upon visiting Big Basin for the first time after the fire, was that I would be witness to total devastation. Instead, I found myself surrounded by health. Almost all of the burned trees are sprouting vigorous new branches. The park is alive with new growth,” Fogg said. “The other aspect that surprised and inspired me was the sense of human opportunity laid open in the wake of the fire. Nothing in Big Basin is as it was, so now we get to ponder what we want for the future of this park. Even the basic understandings of who the park is for and how we want to enjoy it are now laid open for deep thought. Is there a way for a greater diversity of people to enjoy a lighter and more respectful presence in the park as it is reopened for use? How can a more inclusive ‘we’ come together to start the discussion and create a new vision?
“I hope visitors will select a branch that resonates with them and add it to the big tree trunk on my quilt. It will be a way for everyone to contribute to the discussion,” Fogg added.
Organizer Nancy Gerdt said that some of the art coming out of storage for this event will eventually be displayed in a new Big Basin Center.
For more information, visit feltonlibraryfriends.org.
