By Olivia Foster ’18 Web News Editor

Finding beauty in nature may be easy for most people, but turning that beauty into an artform takes talent. For Faiza Qureshi ’17, nature stirs her creativity and inspires her art. Qureshi’s passion for art flourished during the summer of 2013, when she spent time outdoors reading and making art from recycled mason jars. Her love of both the environment and art has grown to the point where she is now organizing an interactive art exhibit at the third annual Earthplace Festival on Oct. 2 and 3.

“Art has had the ability to change me, because I see everything much more clearly, and I begin to notice details. I’m able to see bigger pictures as well,” Qureshi said with a smile.

While Qureshi enjoys all art forms, she focuses on photography and wood art where she carves designs into blocks of wood. “I follow a fashion blog that makes wood art with watercolor designs. It’s a really zen atmosphere when I do it,” Qureshi said.

Qureshi not only draws inspiration from her friends who she says are “the best artists to be surrounded by,” but also from various art blogs. For the past three years, Qureshi’s written her own blog, Thought Dweller, about how she perceives the universe as well as how to live freely and share positivity.

“A common topic is change and how we have to live with it,” Qureshi said. She admits that although she does not write regularly, “It’s something I’m trying to build and it’s more like a creative flow, so whenever the wave comes, I just take it.”

Qureshi’s exhibit will be displayed along the walking trails at Earthplace. She also anticipates having a small workshop for younger kids in which they can make wood art with pressed      flowers.

Although Qureshi is organizing the exhibit, along with Programs Director, Becky Newman, her artwork will not be the sole feature of the gallery. Qureshi recruited friends and scoured Instagram for willing artists to share their artwork in the exhibit. Such artists will include Staples students Imogen Barnes ’20, Alexandra McMahon ’17, Meredith Bonington ’17 and Sebastian Avila ’17. “It’s all about perspective when it comes to art and getting a lot of interpretations instead of just one,” Qureshi said.

With a petite figure but lively personality, Qureshi’s curating exploration will not stop at this upcoming festival. She is already working on getting a grant for a much larger exhibit at Earthplace in May. A future career in the arts is not set in stone; however, her passion is one that will last a lifetime. “I hope that it follows me,” Qureshi said, “in a way that keeps me with the beauty in the universe.”