Escape To Create hosts naturalist Mark Hainds and artist Donna Ruff Feb. 12

February 2, 2015

Photo courtesy Mark Hainds.
Photo courtesy Mark Hainds.

Escape To Create will present a program by naturalist Mark J. Hainds. It will be held at The REP Theater in Seaside on Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Hainds weaved his 1,200 mile walk along the Texas-Mexico border into a tale of discovery, nature adventure, and the stories of people he met. The documentary La Frontera, was filmed by the The Southern Documentary Project, an institute of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. Hainds is an Alabama author, educator and naturalist. As research director of the Longleaf Alliance and research associate at Auburn’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Hainds has introduced thousands of children across the south to the wonders of the longleaf pine ecosystem. He is published in the American Journal of Botany and his book, Year of The Pig, chronicles the environmental damage inflicted by wild pigs.

While in the area, Hainds will conduct longleaf pine workshops in Walton middle schools.

Tickets are $25 and available at lovetherep.com

ruffworkSharing the venue with Hainds will be award winning illustrator Donna Ruff. Her intricate patterns into paper are reminiscent of 17th century liturgical works. Ruff draws with fire or hand cuts her artwork. Her work is exhibited internationally and is in the collection of the Library of Congress. Huff will be sharing her knowledge of the history and process of books as art.

Ruff will conduct a drawing class for middle school students and will give a power point presentation.