Lost & Found

We are a small but mighty neighborhood bookstore with local charm located in Brewster, Massachusetts.

The Brewster Book Store

Explore the world of “Lost and Found” in this four-session journaling series led by Mark Kesling.

Brewster Book Store

In this four-session immersive workshop, participants will curate their own collection of found natural objects gathered from nearby Brewster nature preserves and beaches. Through writing, photography, poetry, storytelling, and painting, we will explore how ordinary objects hold extraordinary stories. Together, we’ll uncover the ecological science, cultural meaning, artistic symbolism, and personal narratives hidden within what has been lost—and found. Each session blends field exploration with creative studio practice.

About Mark Kesling:Mark Kesling is an artist, photographer, and science educator whose work explores the intersections of art, science, and perception. Across photography, watercolor, mixed media, and interactive design, his practice is rooted in observation, curiosity, and the belief that learning begins with truly seeing the world around us.

Recommended supply <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kHv6mAnUHMmo18Gqm-koQ-z8DlgSiiwEScUcxocA0i4/edit?usp=sharing" title="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kHv6mAnUHMmo18Gqm-koQ-z8DlgSiiwEScUcxocA0i4/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">list</a>. Scroll down for individual session details.

Agenda

We begin in the field. Participants visit a Brewster preserve or beach and practice intentional observation: slowing down, noticing texture, pattern, color, placement, and context. What is abandoned? What has traveled? What has endured?

Participants will:
1.      Collect a small, ethical selection of found objects (shells, driftwood, feathers, stones, seed pods, seaweed, etc.)
2.      Photograph objects in situ before moving them
3.      Create quick field sketches and sensory notes
4.      Write short “first impressions” pieces — What might this object have witnessed?

We’ll introduce the idea of a curated collection — not just gathering objects but choosing them with purpose. The session closes with a reflective conversation about why certain objects call to us.

March 9: Session 1-The Art of Noticing — Gathering What Calls to You

In this session, we explore the natural history behind our collections. What processes created these objects? What ecological roles did they serve? How did tides, wind, animals, seasons, or time shape them?

Participants will:
1.      Research and identify their objects (species, material, origin)
2.      Sketch structural details with scientific attention
3.      Write a short natural history entry in their journal
4.      Create macro or detail photographs highlighting the pattern and design

We’ll discuss:
1.      Coastal and woodland ecology in Brewster
2.      Adaptation and survival
3.      Cycles of growth, decay, and transformation

Participants begin to see their objects not just as beautiful artifacts, but as part of a living system.

March16: Session 2-The Science of the Found — Ecology, Time, and Place

Natural objects carry cultural symbolism and artistic history. Shells have been currency and ornament. Driftwood becomes sculpture. Stones mark memory. Feathers represent freedom, spirituality, or migration.

Participants will:
1.      Explore historical and cultural uses of natural materials
2.      Read short examples of object-based poetry and storytelling
3.      Write a poem, monologue, or short fictional narrative from the object’s perspective
4.      Experiment with watercolor or mixed media to interpret emotional tone

We’ll consider:
1.      How artists have used found objects
2.      The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi (beauty in imperfection)
3.      How meaning is layered onto material

This session invites participants to shift from observer to storyteller.

March 23: Session 3-Cultural Memory & Symbol — What Objects Mean

In our final session, participants transform their journals and objects into a cohesive narrative collection.

Participants will:
1.      Arrange and photograph their curated collection as a visual story
2.      Write a reflective essay or artist statement about their gathered objects
3.      Combine images, sketches, poetry, and scientific notes into a final journal spread
4.      Share their “Lost & Found” story with the group

We will reflect on:
1.      What was truly lost?
2.      What was discovered?
3.      How did our perception change?
 
Participants leave with:
1.      A richly layered nature journal
2.      A curated collection with personal and ecological meaning
3.      A deeper understanding of place, story, and observation
4.      Renewed awareness of how the natural world holds memory and narrative

Lost & Found

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Lost & Found

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