SECOND PLACE WINNER

Julie Watters
Artist

About Julie
Julie, a Leeds native, is a visual and performing artist, educator, trainer, and coach who uses creativity, movement, and health information to engage children and adults in holistic wellness. She regularly designs and delivers programs to corporations, academic institutions, civic groups, and nonprofits both in person and virtually. In March of 2023, Julie opened her own studio, Fit City Movement & Arts, in downtown Leeds with the hopes of bringing her gifts and experiences to the people in her own community.

About the Rocking Chair:
The title 'rest stop' was a knee jerk reaction I put on the form when signing up for the contest. When I sat on the title and developed an idea, I thought about the things that bring us rest, like a comfy chair, the gift of nature, and colorful imagination. My friend, Lillie, helped me brainstorm creatures that might also take a rest in the scene, which is why you'll find the beautiful butterfly on the front and the coy fish playing in the river. Yes, I know coy don't usually live in our rivers, but that's the beauty of artistic license and making up a world of possibility. It's also a little interactive. Regardless of where you stand in the front, the perspective gives you the feeling of depth that makes you want to walk into the world created. The back of the chair is the same scene, but a nighttime version, full of creatures that fascinated me as a child and continue to do so today. And, for those who know me, they understand that I have a hobby of collecting four leaf clovers. Look carefully, and you will find two real four leaf clovers I picked myself. 

It is my hope that this rocking chair will invite people of all ages and walks of life to take a break from their screens and to-do lists, to slow down, and to bask in the lost art of playful wonder.