Naomi Call
Naomi simply loves to create. Her artistic path since acquiring her BFA has taken numerous turns through countless expressions until her barefoot beach walks brought her to driftwood a few years ago. Naomi holds a deep reverence and awe for Nature, especially trees. In her sculptural works, the late chapter of a tree’s life in driftwood form feels symbiotic to her own life chapter.
Naomi has happily and gratefully been known as: an art teacher, chef, baker, herbalist, nutritionist, documentary filmmaker, activist, farmer, international yoga teacher and author, and alchemist. Her favorite role, which has brought her the most profound blessings, is as a mother of two sons. She also loves supporting others in embracing the divine orchestration of life through offering New Moon Gatherings for women, which she has done for twenty-five years.
That Part of Her Heart
Juxtaposing Wonders
Diverging After All That
Nature’s Network
Inside Out
Being Flexible
Sustained Hope
They Tied The Knot
How long have you lived in the Traverse City region? What brought you here? What keeps you here?
I moved to the Traverse City area eight years ago from Southern California. A friend invited me to accompany her on the annual retreat with her dogs in the RV to her summer home in Leelanau. The water, nature, the independent bookstores and theaters, the farmers, local food,-sized and co-op all played a role in keeping me here. Traverse City was the perfect-sized city I had been searching for.
How does your art practice connect you to the community or vice versa?
I graduated with a BFA and then life took me on a very different path. I had not been taking time to make art until I was moved by all the beautiful driftwood on our beaches. I love that I've been reinspired and that's led to entering shows, going to openings and connecting with artists throughout the area. It's been very gratifying as I've also sold a number of pieces. I love being a part of bringing natural beauty into peoples homes.
What is an underappreciated aspect of our region?
I deeply appreciate the Great Lakes. I had no idea how magnificent they were until moving here. I wish we would all do as much as we possibly can to protect them.
Tell us about your process for one of these works.
I walk the beach every chance I get, especially in the months that I can be barefoot here. I've picked up a lot of driftwood over the years. I love coming back to my studio, laying out my findings, and allowing serendipitous collaborations to happen. My goal is to showcase what Nature has created. I don't want to change it and have no notion of making it better. I feel like I get to repurpose my reverence for every chapter in the life of a tree. I recognize that driftwood and I have a few things in common....we are both donning silver shades and are past our younger years, into the retirement category. Maybe that's part of why we work together so nicely.
Do you have any local art crushes?
My local "art crush" might be obvious....it's Lake Michigan. I love what she does. It's a collaboration between the trees, the wind, and the water. I'm infatuated with Nature and very deeply reverent of the spectacular landscape we are surrounded by here.