Artist talk with ACES April 2026 Wilderness Resident at Toklat Melissa Johnson

Experience the magic of the Castle Creek Valley through the eyes of artist and ACES’ Wilderness Resident at Toklat Melissa (Missy) Johnson. Join us for an evening of storytelling and art as Missy shares her illustrated residency journal—a month-long creative piece capturing Toklat’s natural wonders, culinary heritage, and legacy of simplicity, resilience, and stewardship.

The ACES Wilderness Residency at Toklat is designed to advance and share the work of one individual, working at the intersection of environmental challenges and artistic expression, offering them unencumbered time to think, work, and create in an inspirational setting. These four-week residences are situated at 9,500 feet in the historic Castle Creek Valley at the Catto Center at Toklat.

Learn more about ACES Wilderness Residency at Toklat!

About the speaker: Melissa Johnson is ACES April 2026 Wilderness Resident at Toklat. Melissa is an educator and multimedia sketchbook artist whose 25-year journaling practice began while living in the ghost town of Ashcroft, Colorado. During that time, she served as a resident ghost and archives intern for the Aspen Historical Society while spending her evenings working cookouts at Toklat. With a background in anthropology and art history from Washington State University, her career has spanned interpretive rangering for Washington State Parks, university-level English instruction in Oaxaca, Mexico, and nutrition education for vulnerable populations.

In 2024, Melissa completed a “life resume” trek of the Pacific Crest Trail, documenting the journey in an illustrated journal. This transformative experience solidified her commitment to the deep sense of place that only slowing down can provide. Today, she weaves storytelling and creativity into her lessons to foster a sense of belonging and global responsibility. Whether stewarding her family homestead in Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains or exploring the landscapes of Mexico, Melissa remains a lifelong explorer, dedicated to honoring the world through mindful observation and her ever-present sketchbook.