Dear Friends of Mountainside Arts,

It is with a heavy heart that I share some news. ❤️‍🩹

My beloved Art school, a sanctuary for creativity and connection, finds itself in a challenging situation. Dominion Energy will be building a new 4-acre Walnut Creek substation just 45 feet from our property. We have fought passionately to protect our beautiful space and my little school. While I feared this chapter was coming to an end, thanks to the support of several Albemarle County Board of Supervisors members and our generous C’ville arts community, we are choosing to hold on. We’ll use our creative force field of love and see what the future holds. In the meantime, I will continue offering private Art Events and teaching Special Ed. & Elementary Art in the public schools.

To process the pain of watching our beautiful neighborhood be permanently destroyed, I’ve poured my heart into a new passion project—songwriting. 10000 Trees Music features all-original and educational Art and Nature songs for children (and some Art grooves for adults, too - plus Spanish!) I also am the lyricist for Serenity Sister and work with the Peace Music Collective - a global group of musicians and environmentalists using Art and Music to amplify voices of love, community, kindness, inclusion and caring for the earth.

If you would like to support me in these new songwriting endeavors or want to help keep the hope of Mountainside Arts C’ville alive, I have set up a Patreon account and would tremendously value your support. 🎨🌎💕

In these challenging times, creativity, art, the forest, and music have been my sanctuary. My hope is that a spark of the creative process touches you as well, helping to begin the healing.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for being a part of this journey.
May you always find health, happiness, and inspiration in the years to come. Trust in karma.

With love and HOPE,

Rachel McLaughlin
Mountainside Arts
C'ville
2/16/2025

Stay tuned for exciting updates about potential Summer 2025 Camps – The Art of Construction.