NEA Big Read-Nature Stories & Watercolors with Artist Mauricio Meneses

This proposal outlines a series of 1-hour community art workshops inspired by Mary Roach’s book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law. The workshops will blend creative practice with discussion, offering participants the chance to explore the themes of human–wildlife coexistence while producing their own artwork.

Participants will create watercolor and graphite postcards inspired by animals featured in the book, such as bears, monkeys, birds, and deer. Alongside the art activity, attendees will be encouraged to share experiences and reflect on stories of coexistence with wildlife.

What to Expect on Saturday, April 25th, 2026, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm MDT:

* Encouraging prompts designed to spark imagination and unlock your creativity
* Simple, accessible guidance on how watercolors take form
* Encouragement, laughter, and a supportive environment
* Opportunities to share your ideas and work (if you’d like!)

No experience required. No pressure. Just creativity, curiosity, and community.

Come write. Come listen. Come be inspired.

ABOUT FUZZ
What’s to be done about a jaywalking moose? A bear caught breaking and entering? A murderous tree?

In Fuzz, New York Times bestselling author Mary Roach dives into the surprisingly complex world of human-wildlife conflict. Blending humor, science, and fascinating history, Roach explores how communities navigate encounters with bears, mountain lions, elephants, and more. Three hundred years ago, animals were assigned legal representation and put on trial. Today, the answers lie not in the courtroom but in science — at the crossroads of wildlife biology and human behavior.

For mountain and mesa communities like ours in northern New Mexico, where encounters with wildlife are part of daily life, Fuzz offers a timely, humorous, and insightful lens into coexistence.

NEA BIG READ ACTIVITIES
From March through June, the NEA Big Read will bring together local artists, educators, scientists, and community partners for reading discussions, creative writing workshops, arts and media projects, nature tours, and public forums designed to spark curiosity and conversation.

The program will culminate on June 27, 2026, with a public film screening and panel discussion at the Shuler Theater, showcasing community-created work and highlighting the power of literature, creativity, and dialogue in deepening our understanding of nature — and our place within it.

� Come be part of a community-wide exploration of storytelling, science, and coexistence.

All are welcome!