We had the good fortune of connecting with Nika Meyers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nika, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in Bridgewater, Vermont nestled among fresh produce and hardwood forests. We grew our food in the summer, pickled and caned food in the fall, nordic skied in the winter, and maple sugared in the spring. We were part of a community that was rural and had with deep roots. My Papa owned a wood fired Italian restaurant inspired by his family and upbringing where my siblings and I worked and my Mama was a teacher. We knew deeply the place we called home.

Homeschooled along side my twin sister until 7th grade, the outdoors were our classroom and we explored and grew through curiosity. As a visual learner, art and creativity were encouraged. I loved to get dirty, make a mess, and paint everything! From the branches of a tree I would read the stories of strong characters adventuring too far off places, living with animals, and overcoming enormous challenges. I believed I was part fairy, able to fly through the mountains on wings and find magical worlds in tiny dew droplets or patches of moss. I would fly through skies made of fern fields and dancing milkweed fluffies. Imagination ran through my veins and put dreams inside my head.

We (my twin, brother and parents) lived simply in a house that was build by our parents when they were in their twenties from the trees that grew there before them. From an early age it was instilled in us to ask questions, look closely and celebrate the interconnectedness of our big world. We were lucky to travel to remote places and camp among other ecosystems and communities, sharing differences and embracing new things.

As teenagers, my sister and I co-founded a teen run non-profit organization called Change the World Kids dedicated to make the world a better place free of charge. Our volunteer work expanded our knowledge of where we lived, the issues facing our community, and the strength that youth can have to create change. It also taught me so many aspects of running an organization, budgeting, and fundraising.

I was fascinated by the long-distance travels of migratory animals and the connectivity of landscapes. We traveled with Change the World Kids to Costa Rica to restore habitat for migratory birds and understand conservation through corridors rather than fragmented parcels of land. I loved that a tiny bird’s resupply on their 2,000 mile journey could be at my bird-feeder. Oh, what stories they could tell if we could talk in the same language! Little did I know that humans were also hiking 2,000 miles along the Appalachian Trail only 2 miles from where I grew up.

My upbringing has lead me to become an artist, long distance hiker and environmental educator and continues to inspire me to grow with a sense of curiosity and respect.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am watercolor, plein air and mixed media artist living and working in Aspen, Colorado. My current body of work is inspired by moments that are full of awe, change, wild silliness, and demanding challenge. Many of my current pieces are inspired by over 10,000+ miles of hiking across the United States connecting communities, landscapes and ecosystems. Through mixed media pieces, primarily combining watercolor, ink and thread, I juxtapose landscapes and use detailed line drawings to create visual connections that allow space to reflect on how we view landscapes in relation to each other.

I received a degree in Studio Art and Environmental Science from Mount Holyoke College where I focused on visually representing landscape in terms of systems through printmaking, paper making and mixed media. My thesis explored the interconnectedness of our world though changing landscapes. Through commissioned work, I collaborate with clients, organizations and businesses to create unique pieces that allow other dreams and missions to come to alive in a visual context.

Over the years I have grown my art practice along side other jobs and opportunities, making it so my creativity would not be burdened by financial stress. I have waited tables, served as an Americorps member, celebrated place as a backcountry caretaker, taught the wonders of the North Cascades, worked on trail crews, followed migratory birds to Costa Rica, been an environmental educator in Colorado and just finished my sixth season coaching our nordic ski team in Aspen. Between jobs, I have spent the past decade walking over 10,000+ miles across the US. In 2021 I set the Fastest Known Female Time on the 500-mile Colorado Trail to connect deeper with the landscape I now call home in 9 days, 14hrs and 19mins.

It has not been a straight road to where I am today, yet art has always been part of my world. Only within the past 3 years have I felt confident enough to have it be a part of my career. I am so lucky to have people who believe in me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Depends on the season! Every season offers such different experiences in every place I have lived. Given that this is being written in the spring time, I will assume they come to visit then.

We would go nordic crust skiing up one of the local valleys or ski on some of our over 90k of free nordic ski trails and come back into town to cook dinner with some of my close friends I would want them to meet. The next day we might explore Hallam Lake and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, visit the Herbert Beyer Museum, Aspen Art Museum and swing by the Red Brick Center for the Arts to visit my studio as well as the other resident artists. Dinner again would be a cooked meal or picnic in a local park to watch the sunset with friends. The next morning we might nordic ski up the Maroon Bells and come back to pack for a backcountry ski hut trip to several of the Braun Huts nestled in mountains between Crested Butte and Aspen. We would pack in food from as many of my favorite local farmers as possible and be joined by some wonderful local characters. We would have many spontaneous dance parties, ski during the sunrise and sunset, play music, possibly a cold plunge, and share all the emotions. The trip would be a whirlwind.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so lucky to have the support I do and 100% my success in life would not be what it is with out it. It is impossible to choose one to highlight. My twin sister, Phebe! She has always been my biggest fan. My parents for sharing their values and amazing support. Change the World Kids (www.changetheworldkids.org), an amazing organization that helped build the foundation of how I relate to this big wide world. The long distance hiking, climbing and nordic ski communities (organizations and individuals). The many artists that I have been mentored by. My dear friends who motivate, encourage and energize adventures and work. My inspiring partner. Currently, an amazing artist I am learning and working with is Leah Potts (www.leahpottsart.com). Her work, energy and life story is incredible. THANK YOU!!!

Website: www.nikameyers.com

Instagram: @earlybirdhikes.art, @nikameyers.art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nika.meyers

Other: Come visit me in my studio at the Red Brick Center for the Arts, 110 Hallam St., Aspen, CO!!!!!

Image Credits
Nika Meyers,

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