volunteer of the year
Barbara Bryan
Named 2012
“ Her art has helped to transform Native Seed into an award-winning publication.” ellie altman
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something that I had always wanted to do, since first grade. I’m delighted that it falls together, and while I love creating art for the newsletter and other publications, I also am gratified that others enjoy it as well.” She relates a story of a complete stranger calling her at home to let her know that she enjoys the drawings she sees in each issue of Native Seed.
he issue of Native Seed in your hands would not be possible without Barbara Bryan. Sure, the newsletter would still be in your hands. The articles would be the same. The design and photography would still be beautiful. But it would be missing the subtle yet stunning artwork that brings its content to life and truly makes the Arboretum’s newsletter special. When an issue becomes dated, it is hard to put it in the recycling bin. For the past decade, Barbara’s drawings have helped to elevate Native Seed from a mere newsletter to a treasure that members look forward to receiving in their mailboxes. For her incomparable contributions to the Arboretum and its mission, Barbara was named Volunteer of the Year for 2012.
While Barbara is grateful for the opportunity to share her work, the Arboretum is likewise indebted to her for her vision and talent. Her stunning sketches of a fox or a mouse in a mitten bring to life a series of preschool programs, while a drawing of a tulip poplar flower conveys a magnitude of beauty that words cannot capture.
Always fascinated by the natural world, Barbara began creating artwork in first grade. “I had a teacher who came to class one day with wildflowers, and she had all the students pin a flower to their paper and draw it. That’s where it all started for me,” she says. With no formal training, she has pursued her love of art ever since, from painting portraits to drawing plants and animals. “I have always loved the outdoors,” she relates. “And I love to draw from nature. It gives me great pleasure to draw what I see.”
“When Barbara says her volunteer job of painting nature for the Arboretum is her dream job, I am awed that the Arboretum is so blessed by her talents,” says Altman. “Her art has helped to transform Native Seed into an award-winning publication.”
Originally from Canada, Barbara moved to the United States as a teenager and became a naturalized citizen. After receiving a degree in education from the University of Virginia, she met her husband, David, in Washington, DC, and they ended up on the Eastern Shore, living first in Centreville and eventually settling in Easton, where Barbara taught first grade at The Country School. Her longtime relationship with the Arboretum has included serving on both the Art Committee and the Board of Trustees, and she expresses appreciation to Executive Director Ellie Altman for providing an outlet for her to use her talent.
Reflecting on her longtime association with the Arboretum, Barbara is delighted that the natural landscape she cherishes is being preserved. “I’ve seen how things have grown and how the Arboretum is aspiring to be better all the time while taking preference to natural things and honoring nature as it is to make it enjoyable for everybody. It’s been wonderful for me to be able to see the growth and change working for good and to see how the Arboretum’s programs and events are keyed to its core purpose. In every aspect, it has been rewarding and very positive. The staff is a great group of people.”
“I just want to use what I have,” says Barbara. “That’s essentially the key. Ellie has given me the opportunity to do
Barbara will be honored in January at the Arboretum’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. 9
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