A Gathering Place for Art, Education and Community
The Nancy Taylor Stage and Pavilion at the PCEI Nature Center was named in honor of Nancy Taylor, past staff member and long-time supporter of PCEI. The Stage and Pavilion gives the community an opportunity to build something meaningful in Nancy’s memory. The construction and use of the Nancy Taylor Stage and Pavilion features art, education and sustainability–a fitting tribute to the woman who developed PCEI’s concept of “EcoArt” and started our education programs which have been instrumental to PCEI’s success.
The Nancy Taylor Stage serves as a covered facility for classes, student groups, public and private events, and visitors to our 26.2-acre Nature Center. It provides a universally accessible area where students can gather out of the wind or rain after getting off of a school bus or van. It also eliminates the need to put up temporary tents and awnings for education programs and events and thus improve the safety, comfort and productivity of our staff and volunteers.
About Nancy Taylor
Nancy was on staff at PCEI when our Executive Director, Tom Lamar, started working here in 1990. Nancy Taylor was PCEI’s Sustainable Agriculture Program Director from 1989 to 1997. In 2008 and 2009 she organized our statewide Idaho Environmental Summit. She was a dedicated PCEI volunteer and supporter for over 20 years. Combining her background from the family farm in Utah with her studies in textile art, she was the inspiration behind PCEI’s body of work in the areas of sustainable agriculture, education and art. Sadly, Nancy passed away on January 15, 2012 after a hard-fought battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
Design and Construction
The Nancy Taylor Stage and Pavilion was originally envisioned in the summer of 2004 a few yards away under the nearby elm tree in a visioning meeting that we hosted with neighbors, PCEI members, our board and staff. In 2012, a WSU design/build class taught by Dr. Robert Barnstone came up with an initial design and helped build the foundation walls.
The Pavilion is being constructed of recycled materials donated by Larry Duff (reclaimed timber), Wasankari Construction (wagon wheels), Gail DeSantis (reclaimed windows), and Evelyn Palmer (additional glass). The borders of the Pavilion area are surrounded by raised beds filled with colorful plants and flowers. Nancy was a major advocate of art and structure using recycled materials. The involvement of the WSU architecture class aligns with Nancy’s interests in education; the genuine welcoming concept of the Pavilion characterizes Nancy’s nature.
The summer of 2013 saw the completion of the Nancy Taylor Stage. Since then, it has served as the main stage for September’s “Gimme Shelter: A Dance for Nancy” event as well as the ticket booth for October’s “Animals of the Night.” Nancy was passionate about art, farming and recycling, and you’ll find that the Center Stage embodies them all–old farm wheels have been turned into brackets, and the timber and windows are all reclaimed.
Latest Additions
In Spring/Summer 2015, PCEI welcomed a brand new shady-roof structure and sturdy but pliable recycled rubber playground-mat floors – perfect for outdoor events. The pavilion is perfect as a sheltered outdoor classroom or for accommodating larger groups for public and private events, and it’s recycled rubber mat floors are the perfect spot for active play!
Says PCEI’s Executive Director, Tom Lamar:
“The mats will provide a rollable, playable, danceable, and yogable surface for years to come!”
Visit these online albums to see more photos of the construction and use of the Nancy Taylor Stage and Pavilion:
- PCEI’s Artwalk Inside and Artwalk (includes photos of Pavilion being used for a community event)
Thank You for Your Support!
Donations to the Nancy Taylor Memorial Fund can be made online, by mail, as a pledge, or by calling 208.882.1444.We’d like to thank everyone who has made, and is making, the Nancy Taylor Stage and Pavilion a reality. We are especially grateful for Nancy’s inspiration and everyone who has contributed to the Nancy Taylor Memorial Fund. Many thanks to the family of Nancy Taylor, Larry Duff, Wasankari Construction, Dr. Robert Barnstone and the 2012 WSU design-build class, Steve Streets (Day Star Construction), Gail DeSantis, Evelyn Palmer, Hoey Graham, Mary Jo Knowles and many volunteers who have made vital contributions to this project.