Saturday, January 17, 2015

Walden Here project description

Betsy Lohrer Hall
Walden Here, 2015

Only that day dawns to which we are awake.
--Henry David Thoreau


Walden Here is not so much a fixed object, as a process and shared experience. This project, initiated by Los Angeles based artist Betsy Lohrer Hall, will first take place as part of the Beautiful Planet exhibition at El Camino College in Torrance, California.

At five intervals over the course of the exhibition, the artist will dedicate four consecutive uninterrupted hours to being outdoors, technology free. Each experience will focus on perceiving with one of the five senses. 

***Others are invited to do the same—wherever they are in the world—and to interpret or respond to the project in any way they choose.***

A space within the El Camino College Art Gallery will serve as a site for display and experimentation. The artist will be present in the space each Thursday from 12 noon to 2pm, through the run of the exhibition. All are invited to come by for dialogue and exchange.

Join us Tuesday, February 3 at 1pm at the gallery for In the Fielda series of experiential activities related to the Walden Here project. It is free and open to everyone.

This website has been set up to record and share discoveries and observations. If you are interested in contributing photos or writing, please contact the artist at www.betsylohrerhall.com.



The quote, above, is from the final chapter of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, also known as Walden; A Life in the Woods. This book contains, among many other things, the author’s reflections upon simple living in natural surroundings.

Beautiful Planet exhibition


El Camino College Art Gallery presents 

Beautiful Planet
an art exhibition curated by Susanna Meiers


January 20-February 12, 2015

Elizabeth Bloom, Lorraine Bubar, Josh Cho, Lauren Evans, Renee Fox, Ellen Giamportone,Carol Goldmark, Betsy Lohrer Hall, Margaret Lazzari, Kenneth Ober, Ann Page, Deborah Patterson, Anne Scheid, Laura Stickney, Jean Towgood, Victoria Veedell, Pat Warner and David Jordan Williams.

Join us for the reception on Thursday, January 29, 5-8 p.m.


El Camino College Art Gallery
16007 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90506
(310) 532-3670

Betsy Lohrer Hall will be in the El Camino College Art Gallery on Thursdays throughout the exhibition. Her installation, Walden Here, will serve as a site for display, experimentation, dialogue and exchange.

Thursday, January 22            12noon to 2pm     
Thursday, January 29              12noon to 2pm                             
Thursday, February 5            12noon to 2pm     
Thursday, February 12         12noon to 2pm

Hall will also facilitate In the Field, a series of experiential activities related to the Walden Here project. This will take place on Tuesday, February 3 from 1 – 2pm; it is free and all are welcome.