Chip Thomas

Healing with Nature is a collaboration of numerous community volunteers and Cleveland County Mental Health Association. Each year our goal is to host events around Earth Day in Cleveland County that focus on wellness, and healing of our local community, from the natural environment to the overall well-being of our individual community members. To accomplish this goal, the group organizes to bring a special guest to Cleveland County around the theme of "Healing with Nature". We also strive to collaborate with Earth Day service projects around the county.
Healing with Nature' 2019 featured speaker is Chip Thomas M.D., aka "jetsonorama", who is a native of North Carolina. His life direction changed when he attended a small, alternative Quaker school in the mountains of North Carolina (the Arthur Morgan School). He is a photographer, public artist, activist and physician who has been working between Monument Valley and The Grand Canyon in the Navajo nation since 1987. He coordinates the Painted Desert Project - a community building effort which manifests as a constellation of murals across western Navajo Nation painted by artists from all over the world.
Thomas' own public artwork consists of enlarged black and white photographs pasted on structures along the roadside on the Navajo nation. His motivation is to reflect back to the people in his community the love and elements of the culture they've shared with him over the years. He sees this work as an evolving dialog with his community.
From November 1992 to August 1993 Thomas participated with 3 intrepid cyclist who ventured 11.800 miles from the northernmost point on the African continent to the southern most point. This effort won them a Guinness Book of World Record for the fastest crossing of the African continent.
Chip Thomas will be presenting two free public events during his visit to Cleveland County.
Thursday April 25 7:30-9:00 at Newgrass Brewing 213 Lafayette Street Shelby NC. Africatrek Documentary Screening and Discussion
Friday April 26 6:00- 9:00 at Graham Elementary School 1100 Blanton Street Shelby, NC Community Potluck Meal, Live Music And Talk--- "Community Building as a Journey"
To support Healing with Nature 2019, please send your tax-deductible check to: Cleveland County Mental Health Association, PO Box 623 Shelby, NC 28150. Please indicate "Healing With Nature".
Submitted by Ron McCollum