Beauty in the Backyard

By: Melanie Montanaro

In October 2018, Metta Creative brought us Beauty in the Backyard, a creative arts experience with the intent of creating profound connection—with ourselves, each other, and our environment…

Day One:

So I pull up to Beauty in the Backyard, and I was in awe. I mean It was like I was in HOBBIT WORLD, except tent-style. I tried setting up my tent on this large green hill, except the tent happened to be an A-Frame. NOT a pop up. It took damn near 3 boy scouts to help get that tent up.

But when we finally got that tent set up HOLY CRAP AVOCADO HATS was all I saw before running over to the bleachers while Avocados Anonymous Band performed live before the crowd. Avocado fever was rampant and my stomach growled as I thought about the guacamole that was sure to make an appearance later at the plant-based community potluck.

But it was only day one and I was dying to check out the other music stages. There were different vibes at all the stages so whenever you wanted a change of pace or atmosphere there were options. Bass Barn was where I spent the majority of day one since it was getting dark outside. But it was mesmerizing. Inside there were flow artist, projected visuals, and artists were painting masterpieces as the music thronged around them.

Before the night really kicked off, everyone was rallied for the community plant-based potluck. The founders of Metta Creative: Davis Pfund, Dylan Nunn, and Captain Sebastian welcomed everyone. It was really heart-warming to share a meal with everyone, and I can tell you that whomever made the raw vegan walnut taco salad made a permanent connection in my heart.

Then the night really got going. And whenever we started getting tired someone would yell BASS BARN and we’d get right back at it, dancing and enjoying company. Phil Avocado even gave me his hat at one point and my dream of head banging as an avocado was fulfilled. As the night wound down, there were campfires set up all around the grounds. I hugged someone at one of the fires who I was convinced was of my elven brethren. People had brought out guitars and went freestyling well into the night.

Day Two:

You wake up with the options of yoga workshops, flow arts, and sustainability games awaiting. I set my morning intention—to explore the rest of the grounds. I ran into my friend, who I had deemed my elven brethren the night before. He gave me one of his pashminas and we ran through the forest in a peter-pan like manner, scarves whipping behind. The sun was glinting through the trees and it was picturesque. Really, it is these whimsical moments with people that give life to the experience.

But seriously, because then I ran into Gil aka the Dragonfly Bead guy. He told me he was going to gift me a bracelet he creates with love. He told me it would signify whatever I wished—to which I replied, “Magic.”

Then, we went to cross a bridge to explore across the lake. Gil told me about his dream to lead people in the outdoors to bring them closer to the Earth. And it just so happened there was an OBSTACLE COURSE!! Okay magic?? And then of course we ran into a small group just then and helped guide them through the course. I was so happy to be a part of Gil’s dream, which literally manifested right after we finished talking about it. This was just one inkling of the magic at Beauty in the Backyard. And after we got back there was an artist who had painted a scene of the lake we had just crossed. The moment had been preserved in time--captured in more than one way as a work of art.

As night began to fall, fire dancers came out to play.

Under the pavilion stage, everyone dancing to the live music created an electrified feel.

Some connections you may have made in the backyard could feel like you were old friends and just being reunited again. The next person I met gave off that sort of vibe, which was further confirmed when he lent me a black hoodie and Naruto headband. I was pretty much set because now I was in full ninja mode, running between campfires and enjoying the brief time to lose my identity.

But then I was convinced my life turned into a comedy. I arrived at the campfire where people were gathered, jamming together. I began to feel kind of like everything was leading up to this moment where I was supposed to sing and get over my fears. The pressure was building and my friend next to me said, “You know you can control it,” as if he knew exactly what I was going through. So I started drumming away on the bongos. Now, mind you I’d never played bongos before but I kept drumming away as if I was rhythmically in tune. I began to sing softly, “sometimes I feel like my life is a goddamn commercial.” I created this narrative in my head that this campfire was the setting of a commercial and I was supposed to have my “life” moment right then and there. I mean the moment where you get the experience your whole life has built up to. And literally people just kept handing out instrument after instrument. I swear I thought more people were going to come out of the trees and be like “Yep that’s it folks. Time to air it on the big screen.” I also came up with another narrative that the girl tending the fire was “God” and that I had to prove myself to make it into the “heaven” band. We started singing, “Medicine womannn, medicine mannnn…walking with grace I trust your face and I trust your hand.” This was super powerful to me, even though in the back of my head I was thinking okay, did I make it in the band or not?! But I also came back to reality a bit and realized that even if I didn’t have “the moment” it wasn’t really about that and just being a part of everything--even if it was only drumming somewhat off-beat on the bongos. Actually looking back on it I remember having a friendly conversation with the girl next to me. And that might’ve been the most important “moment” there was. Ultimately, I realized Beauty in the Backyard was just the beginning for me, to help me start opening up more and nurturing my creative spirit.

Day Three:

The final day of Beauty in the Backyard was concluded beautifully—with chocolate. Okay not exactly chocolate, but Cacao beans (for the PC hippies). And ecstatic dance! Everyone was dancing under the pavilion while the sun rose up overhead. Afterwards everyone started packing things up. I couldn’t help but feel sad that it was ending (but also excited to finally shower since I had chosen the roughneck tent over cabin life). But we had a final heartfelt send-off, in a circle dance. Everyone joined hands, while The Uptown Boys sang and drummed along, paying homage to their Native American roots. The campgrounds are built upon native land, so it was quite fitting that everyone gathered to pay their respect to the Earth--this great backyard.

And so now the stages have been set. Beauty in the Backyard is the beginning of something awe-inspiring. And this snapshot of my experience can only begin to capture it—the chance for expression, a playground for imagination and even a sacred space for those who seek it.