Wild Creative: Big Bend Recap

Heading into Big Bend, we felt a mix of excitement and nerves. With its remote, wild beauty and the bar set high by our incredible inaugural Grand Teton gathering, we wondered if this second meetup could possibly measure up. But Big Bend had its own plans—what unfolded was powerful in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Our group was grounded by the vastness and quiet of the desert, quickly tuning in to the landscape and to each other. The energy of connection was palpable, with mindfulness, self-awareness, and a deeper relationship to the earth taking center stage. The spirit of Big Bend inspired more intentional practices: journaling, self-reflection, meditation, and rich group conversations grew organically alongside our naturalist explorations. Everyone captured the magic in their own unique way, and together, we found that the desert’s silence sparked creativity and community. This meetup forever changed the heart of Wild Creative—the power of sharing, group circles, and personal reflection are now woven into the very core of what we do. If you’re curious what makes Wild Creative special, scroll on to see stories, photos, and moments from a weekend that will echo in our hearts for a long time to come.

2025 Big Bend attendee feature:

Stephanie Saldivar

📍Austin, TX
Creative medium: photography, sketch artist, writer
@stephanie.e.saldivar

Testimonial: When I first signed up for the Wild Creative meetup in Big Bend National Park, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was yearning—quietly, deeply—for a community of creatives who not only loved nature, but were inspired by its wild, unpredictable rhythm. Little did I know, I would come away with not only lifelong memories but the very community I didn’t know I so deeply needed.

As a nature and landscape photographer, I often approach new environments with a mission mindset: take as many pictures as possible before the light fades or the moment passes. But this adventure gently peeled that urgency away. It taught me the value of slowing down, of listening, observing, and learning from those around me. For once, I wasn’t counting the shots I took, I was fully immersed in the moments that didn’t need to be captured to be remembered. I began to find satisfaction not in quantity, but in the quiet quality of presence.

Though photography is my medium, I am an artist at heart. In the stillness and reflection this experience invited, I found myself inspired to sketch again, to document with my hands as much as with my lens. And for the first time in a long time, I felt safe enough to share parts of my journal; the raw, unfinished thoughts that rarely see the light. That vulnerability was met not with critique, but with warmth and understanding.

Through guided meditations, breathwork, and shared journaling, something powerful unfolded. A deeper connection to the land revealed itself, one that was felt collectively. It was as though, without needing to speak, we elevated one another with every inhale and every step. There was a kind of telepathy that happens when you gather people with open hearts and a shared reverence for the natural world.

I carry immense gratitude for this experience and for the Wild Creative community. It has reminded me that the most meaningful lessons often come not from chasing what we think we want, but from remaining open to what we truly need. I look forward to future gatherings with more moments of stillness, creation, and unexpected connection. If you’re a creative soul longing to rekindle your spark alongside others who feel the same, this is your invitation. Come as you are, and trust that you’ll leave with more than you could’ve imagined.

Website: https://stephaniesaldivar.com

Upcoming projects: Matriarch is an upcoming self-portrait series that explores the deeply rooted relationship between women and the natural world. Inspired by the rhythms of nature and its quiet wisdom, the work reflects on how landscapes shape our inner lives, influence our relationships, and hold space for healing. Through each image, I use the natural world as both mirror and guide, offering a visual narrative that is personal yet universal. This project is not just a reflection of self, but an invitation to others to find their own stories in the stillness of the wild.

Subscribers will have the opportunity to experience Matriarch as an intimate digital gallery, released in a series of exclusive updates that share the evolving heart of the work: one story, one image at a time. Link: https://stephaniesaldivar.com/matriarch-signup

Poem inspired by the trip: “Born to Chase the Light”

I once dreamed of wind without walls,
of open earth and silence loud—
a place where I could shed the cage
and bloom beneath the firebound clouds.

The desert whispered, Come undone,
Be dust, be thorn, be endless sky,
Your roots were never meant for still,
Your soul was made to wander dry.

So I went—
past fences shaped by fear,
past all the maps that said return,
and found the wild was not a place,
but something in me that could burn.

Among the prickled emerald skin
of cacti bathed in copper light,
I found companions just as fierce—
not alone, but side by side.

We do not chase the sun to flee,
but because we are the flame,
we dance on windswept golden trails,
unbound, unnamed, untamed.

Far beyond the hills' last curve,
where shadows stretch to meet the day,
we roam, forever chasing light—
not lost, but always on our way.

Favorite shots from the trip:

2025 Big Bend attendee feature:

Brett Schaar

State- Minnesota
Creative Medium - Videography
Social Handle - @brett.unbound
Website - https://schaarpro.com/
Upcoming Projects- Solo van lifer, living for meeting new people and telling stories.

Brett’s video recap of the trip:

Shots of Brett from the trip:

2025 Big Bend attendee feature:

Brittany Taylor

State - Texas
Creative Medium - Photography
Social Handle - @brittanytatertot

Shots of Brittany from the trip:

Words From Brittany:

I came into this experience hoping to make a few new friends, learn some photography techniques, and maybe do a little networking. But what I walked away with was so much more than I ever expected.

Somewhere between the stillness of the meditation sessions and the quiet moments behind my camera, I found a deeper connection with the earth, with the people around me, and with myself. Those moments reminded me of the importance of slowing down, of being truly present. That lesson has followed me home and become something I now carry with me in my everyday life.

This trip didn’t just shift something in me it transformed all of us. Wild Creative cultivated a space that felt safe, supportive, and open. We could share honestly, laugh freely, cry without shame, and just be. It was powerful to witness so many emotions flowing through such a diverse, beautiful group of people. In a way, we were all cracked open and put back together again, softer and stronger than before.

Though I’ve visited Big Bend many times in the past, this time felt different. I connected with the land on a much deeper level. Under the stars, guided by passionate and knowledgeable leaders, I learned not only about the stars above us but about the stories and history of those who came long before. During our down time, we gathered in circles to share stories of past adventures. Some of us painted, some did yoga, and others wrote quietly in journals. It felt like every soul there found their own way to reconnect.

Through the lens of my camera, I captured more than just images, I captured a feeling, I captured a story I hope to pass on to those I love. These are the stories I hope convince them to travel and connect with the world around them.

If you’re feeling even a little hesitant about going on one of these trips, let this be your sign. Take the leap. This experience changed my life in ways I can’t fully explain and I know it has the power to do the same for you.

Wild Creative is the real deal.