One of our favorite books in the Mountain Water library is A Sketchbook of Birds, a collection of drawings by Charles Tunnicliffe, a British wildlife artist active in the middle of the last century. Many of these sketches were done in the early 1940s on the Welsh coast Isle of Anglesey, not far from the worst ravages of the Second World War. While we don’t know how Mr. Tunnicliffe felt about the terrible destruction going on elsewhere in England and on the Continent, he was clearly focused on something very different: his art was a practice of devotion to the birds and animals around him, quite evident in the tenderness of his observations.

Artistic practice is a way of preserving peace during times of chaos, a contribution that may seem lost in the din of war but one that stands as a crucial haven against aggression and nihilism, like saving seeds, stories, and poetry for the future.

These thoughts come to us in a peaceful valley far from the terrible destruction in Ukraine. Holding the necessity of peace and not succumbing to discouragement in witnessing human cruelty. Much of what we do at Mountain Water is a practice of devotion to this place and the beings inhabiting it for countless generations before us. As we cautiously emerge from the pandemic, we continue to host individuals and small groups. By late spring the two new cabins will be ready for use. Do let us know if you’re thinking of a stay here and we’ll send more details.