Mount Hood

“Patterns in Nature”

March 5, 2025

Written by: Sadie Latimer | News Editor

A new art exhibition, “Patterns in Nature,” was created by Jennifer Bracy, an art and design professor at Western. It was put on display Feb. 20 and will run through March 21. Located on the second floor of Hamersly Library, the exhibition stays true to its title, depicting many patterns that are commonly found in the natural world. 

Bracy has been a professor at Western for 16 years. She created the exhibition while on sabbatical. 

“I just look at (the exhibition) and it feels very rewarding,” Bracy said. “I made a lot, I accomplished a lot. I was productive, but also I was ready to get back in the classroom and was feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.”

Seven years prior, while on another sabbatical, Bracy created a set of works also inspired by nature’s patterns, however, she knew that she wanted to explore deeper within that subject. 

“Patterns in Nature” contains many series of works, with some being deliberately planned and others being more spontaneous. 

Bracy explored techniques, specifically in print-making, that were experimental or non-traditional. One thing that surprised her while creating this exhibition was how many different tools she could experiment with, including a potato masher and foam rollers wrapped with bubble wrap or string. 

Bracy wanted play and experimentation to be the driving force. “Some whole series in here came about just through play. No plan, no idea, no research necessarily.”

Contrarily, Bracy has researched and planned out many of the other works.

“I really enjoy the research part of things, like learning more about what those patterns reveal, what nature can do, how efficient it is or how strong it is, or how good it is at adapting … these are all things that kind of show up when you start looking at those patterns,” Bracy said. 

One pattern that Bracy researched was the connection of opposites, such as the pattern of DNA. 

“The DNA helix is actually a pairing of opposites. This idea of nature putting things — opposites — together and it forming something incredibly meaningful or useful, it’s just one of thousands of ways we as humans can learn,” Bracy said. “We are more divided than ever right now. There’s so much we can learn in that lesson of acknowledging that we are connected and working through those differences and figuring out how to go forward anyway.”

At the heart of the exhibition is the series that inspired the name “Patterns in Nature.” It includes six works of art with different patterns, each accompanied by a homophone pair — two words with the same pronunciation but with different spellings and meanings.

One piece in the series showcases the words “hours” and “ours,” with concentric circles to represent the rings of a tree. “They represent time passing and growth. ‘Ours’ speaks to the arrogance of humanity and thinking nature is our domain, we own it, we can do what we want with it.”

Bracy’s favorite homophone pair in the series is “vein” and “vain,” which is shown with branching patterns similar to the veins in leaves or the veins in humans. “Vain” refers again to humanity’s hubris and arrogance. 

Another series surrounding words and typography, titled “Wordcraft,” is viewer interactive. It was Bracy’s way of letting the viewer experiment and play, just as she did while creating the series. Each work in the series is color coded to distinguish prefixes, base words and suffixes. Viewers can create new words by making different combinations of the fragments of words.

Words are an area of interest that Bracy finds fascinating, often incorporating them into her works, just as she incorporates her other passions into her art.

“The subjects that creep back in recurrently are nature, especially from an environmental standpoint, how humans mess it up and other things related to social justice. So I do look at art and design as a way to talk about important things,” Bracy said. 

The technical aspect of the exhibition that Bracy is most proud of is the incorporation of thread and cross stitch. She loves “the symbolism of something being stitched, the idea of a thread in the work as a theme, the idea of interconnectedness.” The thread in “Patterns in Nature” shows how humans and nature are intertwined. 

Bracy used thread to create topographic maps in a series about climate change. The six small pieces of art that make up the series distinctively stand out in “Patterns in Nature.” According to Bracy, “it’s a more overt statement about our interfering and messing up with nature, whereas the other ones may be a little more nuanced and a little more subtle or open to different interpretations.”

Bracy wants viewers to tap into their curiosity and dig deep to see these patterns in a new light. She wants people to realize how extensive the patterns are, how much depth they really have and how many different settings they occur in.

After people see “Patterns in Nature,” Bracy hopes that “maybe next time they’re in nature, they’ll see the fallen tree and the pond ripple and (see that) those are related and they share some kind of common DNA.”

Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Why should we slow down?

Written by: Isabelle Jones | Lifestyle Editor

In this fast-paced world, it can feel as though there is never enough time to do everything  needed and wanted to do each day. Between classes, work, internships, friends, family and much more, it can be overwhelming to anyone. At times, one may ask themself if they’re not doing enough, if they could be more organized or why does it seem like everyone else has it together? Maybe a different question is required — why is there so much pressure to do more? 

With never-ending busy lives, one might believe that slowing down in life is a luxury that cannot be afforded. In reality, slowing down is a necessity. As a society, younger generations are already facing major burnout in life. To combat this, it’s important to reconnect oneself to the present moment and relearn how to find balance in an ever-changing world. 

1. What are your priorities? 

In order to slow down, one has to figure out what’s important to us. Endless to-do lists can distract from what’s really important. By taking time to reflect on the things that bring peace and joy in our everyday lives, distractions can be cut out. If one is unsure on where to start, try looking at relationships with family and friends. Is there anything one would like to do more? Anything less? Once what’s important is identified, it’s easier to release unnecessary stresses that drain energy. 

2. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is an extremely important skill that everyone can benefit from. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the moment. It includes observing one’s own thoughts, feelings and environment with an open and accepting attitude. It takes time to master mindfulness, but with lots of patience and a willingness to learn, anything is possible. 

3. Mindful Breathing

Pay attention to the sensation of one’s breathing as it moves in and out of the body. Try to breathe slowly and deeply, noticing how the air feels as it moves through the nose, fills the lungs and leaves the body. Allow the body to fully relax and feel as if it’s floating among the clouds. This practice can be done at any time, but it is especially helpful when one is overwhelmed or feeling disconnected. By focusing on what’s happening in the present, one can break free from the never-ending cycle of stress. 

4. Embrace Doing Nothing

Living in a time where productivity is highly valued, doing nothing seems foreign and wrong. Doing nothing is crucial in restoring mental and emotional selves. Whether it’s simply taking a nap, reading a book or people-watching, doing nothing is extremely vital for recharging one’s  mental batteries. Learning how to relax without guilt or pressure is extremely rewarding. One simple “nothing” activity is sitting out at night and looking up at the sky. The chilly air is refreshing and looking at the night sky can encourage one to reflect on their life as a whole. Giving oneself permission to take breaks and rest can lead to a more positive mindset about resting and can result in a higher level of productivity.

5. Reconnect with Nature

Nature has a magical ability to help individuals slow down. It allows for escape from modern responsibilities. Whether it’s in the park, garden or hiking in the woods, reconnecting with nature lowers levels of cortisol — the stress hormone — and improves feelings of emotional well-being. Nature reminds one of the simple pleasures of life, such as feeling the warmth of the sun on our skin or the calming sounds of the wind and water. One such place that encourages one to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the world is Peavy Arboretum. It has many different trails and it feels as if one is deep within the forest, when they’re relatively close to Corvallis. For anyone who wants to do this hike, one would recommend hikers to park in the small parking lot on 99W going South. 

6. Do Not Disturb

As technology continues to advance, people are relying on this powerful tool now more than ever. Whether it’s the constant notifications from email, Canvas, messages, Instagram, TikTok and more, it can become a distraction and eat up free time. Technology, especially phones, can feel as if they’re taking over lives. Just like any other relationship, setting boundaries is important. Some things one could do to limit the unnecessary stress is to turn off any notifications that are not essential. This simple step can make all the difference. As college students, many rely on our phones and laptops and it can be hard to completely take time away from busy schedules. Other than silencing unnecessary notifications, another important reason to take time away from phones is to strengthen in-person relationships. Spending too much time on phones only increases the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed. Setting boundaries in order to separate oneself from the online world allows one to prioritize important personal connections and experiences.

When life feels like a competition, slowing down can feel unproductive. But slowing down has shown the opposite effect. By embracing a mindful lifestyle, it can allow for the ability to feel truly alive and appreciate the smaller things in life. It is important to prioritize what’s really important in order to create a life that is more meaningful and fulfilling. Life is not about the destination, but about the journey — a journey that should be experienced and enjoyed. 

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Hiking trail recommendations

Written by: Quinlan Elise | Photo Editor

The weather is getting nicer, and it’s time to go on some hikes while the trails aren’t too muddy. Here are some recommendations for good local hikes to go on, with friends or solo.  

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge — About 20 minutes away in Dallas, there is a system of walkable trails, filled with a variety of beautiful wild plants and animals. Baskett Slough is a great place to go to birdwatch, but be sure to wear sunscreen because shade can be hard to find.

Silver Falls — An Oregon staple, Silver Falls State Park is 50 minutes East of Monmouth. The highlight of the trails is a wide arched walk behind a 177-foot waterfall curtain. A visit to the Trail of Ten Falls is a must, bringing hikers to the base of ten waterfalls along a 7.2-mile loop with shortcuts, if needed. As a more popular site, a parking permit must be purchased.  

McDowell Creek Falls — About 70 minutes from Monmouth, Lebanon has a beautiful three miles of hiking trails alongside clear water. There are four layers of waterfalls to find, with lookout points and benches to rest, and a beautiful bridge system perfect for photos.

Abiqua Falls — A short but steep hike with a rewarding view, Abiqua Falls is an 80-minute drive to Scotts Mills. The route to the trail may require a car that can handle big bumps, and the hike is difficult, but the secluded and magical waterfall is worth the trek. 

Dog Mountain — Located two hours away in the Columbia River Gorge, the Dog Mountain trail lines the Southern border of Washington alongside the Columbia River. The trail is one of the most popular, but also one of the most strenuous in the Gorge, and the steep hike is prone to strong winds.  It is currently peak spring wildflower season in the area, so one should be prepared for traffic and possibly full parking lots. There is a $5 permit fee and a shuttle from Stevenson, WA, if there are no parking spots available.  

Drift Creek Falls — An easy trail with a towering waterfall and suspension bridge, this hike brings one out to the Oregon Coast, where there are numerous other lush locations to visit. One will need to purchase a $5 day pass, but that can be done online. Drift Creek Falls is a 75-minute drive from Monmouth toward Lincoln City. 

Contact the author at howlphotoeditor@wou.edu

River rescue

Written by: Sierra Porter | Staff Writer

The Klamath River runs through the coastal states of California and Oregon — home to four large dams including JC Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2 and the Iron Gate. These dams have damaging effects on water quality and have depleted salmon populations, which many local tribes heavily rely on. 

Protests from local tribes and efforts from residents of Oregon and California have finally been recognized, and on Nov. 17, 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the surrender of their hydropower license in order to remove the four dams from Klamath River.  The Biden administration, leaders of the four Columbia River Basin Tribes and the Governors of California and Oregon signed papers formally launching a $1 billion plan to restore salmon populations. This decision will allow for the largest dam removal project in United States history and ultimately has become a historical moment for the Pacific Northwest. 

The project is already in motion as Copco No. 2, the smallest of the four dams, was the first to be removed this fall due to its size, location and lack of reservoir. The removal of Copco No. 2 has allowed for water to flow freely down the canyon which has not been touched by water since the dam’s construction in 1925. This was an extremely significant first step in the removal process and gives a promising glimpse at what’s to come. 

Since the construction of these dams, many have felt they’ve done more harm than good. After more than 100 years, the dams along the Klamath have degraded water quality to dangerous levels for salmon and led to excessive growth of toxic cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae. 

The removal of these dams will drastically improve the water quality, allowing Chinook salmon populations to increase up to 80% of what they were before the dam. Salmon is extremely important to many native tribes including the Yurok, Karuk, Shasta, Klamath and Hoopa Valley, who even refer to themselves as the “salmon people.” These tribes rely on salmon for food in addition to rituals and communal culture. For many tribes, salmon represents prosperity, fertility and abundance. The removal of these dams has opened the door for tremendous change and hope within these communities. 

Klamath Justice Coalition Yurok tribe member, Annelia Hillman, says she “imagines a world where we live in harmony with the river,” and the removal of these dams encourages her to believe that this will once again be true. The Klamath Dam Removal Agreement is a long-awaited and well-deserved win for the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. 

Removal of the last dams is scheduled for the summer of 2024 — stay updated with American Rivers.  

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

Where nature and human nature intertwine

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

I grew up country. I’m not talking suburban outskirts country, but rather an unincorporated town, population four hundred and twelve, hay bales on the side of the road kind of country. The kind that someone would have to go out of their way to get to. 

Yet, it was within that capsule of limited population and small-town idealism that I got to see the wonder of simplistic living in my backyard. I didn’t grow up with technology, so my days were spent flipping through paperback books, playing outside with my sister and dad and finding any part of the earth to mess with outside. 

We foraged for mushrooms and wild blackberries, or put on big rubber boots and stomped in the mud. We stared up at the sky, rode four-wheelers out in the large, unoccupied field in our backyard and climbed a huge tree with my dad, who built platforms for us to sit down and take in the expansive view of the meadow. 

When I got into middle school, all of a sudden, phones and tablets were introduced to my world. I met people who spent their childhood behind a computer monitor, or playing on concrete sidewalks or “fake playgrounds,” as I like to call them. Who on earth would need to build all that when you could have trees and dirt piles and slug kickin’ in your backyard? 

My classmates in middle and high school told me that it was shameful to have a country home, embarrassing to have grown up without using Snapchat or playing video games, and I was young, so I believed them. 

When COVID-19 forced everyone back into their homes, I suddenly had the opportunity to travel back in time and revisit my childhood. I stayed at home, and I spent time outside where my old friends, the flowers, the grass and the sunlight were. I could forage for berries, lay in the dirt and spend time in the home that I was once ashamed of. It was then that I realized — there is no life more fulfilling than this. 

I felt horribly, deeply saddened by those who didn’t grow up the way I did — the people who spent their time trapped in concrete jungles, surrounded by asphalt and car engines and Xbox systems — and, frankly, it just didn’t seem like the right way to live. I was mad that at some point in my life, I was envious of the people who lived the way they did. 

As I grew up, I saw more of the world. Perhaps the most eye-opening experience for me was traveling to Hartford/New Haven, Connecticut. When I arrived there, the sky was the wrong shade of blue. It was pale, tinted with a sickly yellow, and I felt unsettled. I figured out a short while later that it was air pollution. I looked around and all I saw was concrete and pollution — a dulled out life. I knew that I wouldn’t be happy living there. It felt suffocating. 

My belief system after COVID had only been reinforced after seeing city life in different areas of the US, and I had come to the very important conclusion that the world feels best where it is untouched. We, as human beings, have destroyed, pillaged and burned the earth. We have buried it in cement, poisoned it with exhaust, littered it with plastics and oils and ruined a very large portion of what used to be, in my opinion, something precious. 

But the inherent need for us as human beings to connect with the earth cannot be ignored. We are one with the world and we cannot exist in a society where Mother Nature is being plundered for profit and reshaped at the cost of our rivers, mountains, trees and fields. 

What I would encourage everyone to do, at least, in the most serious way possible — touch grass. Go drive to the coast and stare at the ocean, or lay down in the dirt, take vegetables from a nearby crop and run away like a Hobbit. Whatever inspires us to traverse outside of the house, outside of the city and into the natural world, existing as designed. 

As I sit here writing this article, I know a large portion of readers are not the biggest fans of country music. But Keith Urban sang something that I remember every so often because it used to play on the radio as I spent my childhood running around in the great outdoors: 

“I’m gonna kick off my shoes and run in bare feet. Where the grass and the dirt and the gravel all meet. Goin’ back to the well, gonna visit old friends. And feed my soul where the blacktop ends.”

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Local options for getting comfortable with outdoor biking

This Independence restaurant experience is worth the price

 

Jude Bokovoy | Lifestyle Editor

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Mountain biking is one of many outdoor activities that Oregon has to offer. Searching for new trails helps people look forward to being outdoors and gets them excited about participating in a good workout. For some, mountain biking can seem intimidating, but this article provides three trails near Western’s campus to ease one into the sport.

Dallas Creek Trail is surrounded by a river, trees, wildlife and is also paved. These inclusions  give an easy going feeling of mountain biking without obstacles such as roots, rocks and hills. Since the trail can be accessed through a safe neighborhood, it can be used while the sun sets. 

The McDonald-Dunn Forest in Corvallis offers a variety of open trails that are perfect for beginners. The smooth trails allow people to adjust to the feeling of biking on dirt for the first time. This also allows beginners to work on switching gears on their bikes as they go up hills. While riding on these beautiful trails, people can take pit stops or even turn around when needed because of the wide paths. 

Last is the Calloway Trail in the McDonald Research Forest Oak Creek Access, which is for bikers that are ready to take on a more challenging trail. The narrow path is enclosed by greenery, has sharp turns, roots, and hills, which makes for a whole lot of fun. Bikers can speed though the trail while going across bridges and avoiding obstacles. There are many other trails located in the same area when one feels ready to level up. After a ride, stop across the street at Cookie Binge for a post-ride sweet treat. They offer a variety of cookies, milkshakes, ice cream and more–perfect to fuel up a hungry biker.

Capturing Earth’s Beauty

The Western Howl staff shares their favorite nature photos they’ve taken

Compiled by The Western Howl Staff

Abiqua falls starts with an adventure hike that leads to beautiful views.
– Kiara Wehrenberg
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most stunning places in the U.S. Its unique geology creates a wonderland of incredible sites.
– Allison Vanderzanden
My first real camping experience and hike was at Big Basin, California; and, though it was grueling, the view was worth two hour hike.
– Cora McClain
The awe-inspiring, wondrous sunsets of Poipu beach will always have a place in my heart. A hui hou kakou.
– Kyle Morden
Taken while on a fishing trip while at a local lake, searching for trout.
– Natalie Dean
Taken in my grandparents backyard while I was visiting. Idaho always has such pretty sunsets that are perfect for pictures.
– Rylie Horrall
These beautiful trees are all over Oregon and their blossoms stay for only a short-time. Enjoy them before they are gone!
– Stephanie Moschella
I took this photo in 2018 when my grandma and I were visiting the Oregon Garden. I have no idea what these flowers are but they are pretty.
– Sydney Carpenter

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