Inspired by Nature: Art Auction & More

A highlight of the field station program calendar, Rice Creek Associates again invites the public and campus community to a day of art and music as part of SUNY Oswego's Friends and Family Weekend. This event is free and open to the public.

Live acoustic music, refreshments, and hands-on art activities, as well as a guided nature walk, complement the main event: the silent auction. Art pieces will be available for online preview before the event, linked here once available.

At the auction, a variety of artistic media and creative interpretations will be represented, with all works fitting the theme "Inspired by Nature." The auction features works donated by local artists and collectors. This year, art experiences like personal and small-group lessons, are also being auctioned. All proceeds will support phase II of RCA's accessible hiking trails project.

Preview the Artworks

Preview the auction artworks using our Google slide deck.

Schedule

Silent auction: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bidding ends right at 4 p.m.Guided Nature Walk: 11 a.m.Hands-on Art: Leaf Printing: 1 – 3 p.m. Drop-by program, timing TBD, by instructor and naturalist Linda Knowles.Live acoustic music: 1 – 3 p.m., Dick Drake and the Band. Covers of John Denver and other singer-songwriters, plus originals.Refreshments: Complimentary refreshments including coffee, tea, cider, and fresh cider doughnuts from Ontario Orchards.Payment and pickups: 4 – 4:30 pm, or the following week as needed. Payment by cash or check only.

Transportation & Parking

Student transportation from campus is available via the Rice Creek van. Pick-ups are on-demand: please call 315-312-6677 after 9:30 a.m. to schedule a pick-up.

For those driving to the event, free parking is available at the field station and along our driveway.

Rice Creek Field Station is located at 193 Thompson Road in Oswego, 1.5 miles south of the main SUNY Oswego campus.

Accessibility statement

We welcome people of all abilities to Rice Creek Field Station. Rice Creek's main building and parking areas are ADA accessible. The Purple Trail, which opened on April 30, 2026, is built to comply with U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines, making it accessible to many people who use wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, and other mobility devices. To inquire about accommodations, please contact Rice Creek's staff at (315) 312-6677 or [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance of the program.