MISSION
La Cuna Center is a nonprofit exploring balance in modern living through the arts and ecology.
PURPOSE
We provide education and encourage dialogue on sustainability, landscape ecology, bioculture, art, architecture, philosophy, and related aspects of contemporary life. By supporting professionals in these fields, we promote research that addresses the challenges of our time.
VISION
Through creative collaboration and interdisciplinary inquiry, we seek to foster approaches to living that support ecological resilience and enrich human experience.
WHAT WE DO
1
EDUCATION
We create workshops, lectures, and events that explore how art, architecture, and design intersect with human well-being, environmental stewardship, and community rhythms. In partnership with artists, designers, and experts, we spark conversations about the impact of our surroundings and daily lives on individual health, ecological sustainability, and the vitality of our communities.
3
RESIDENCIES
Our free, on-site residency program invites artists, architects, designers, and other creatives to engage with the land and explore how their work can foster balance between humans, nature, and the demands of modern life. We welcome a diverse range of participants whose work and research aligns with our mission.
2
RESEARCH
We are committed to intellectual exploration and analysis, engaging a range of perspectives without advocating for policy outcomes. In partnership with local residents, scholars, and creatives, we catalog and share the work at La Cuna through public programs, exhibitions, and educational materials to promote more conscious living practices.
4
CONSERVATION
La Cuna is located in Art, Texas, in the heart of the Hill Country. Our work focuses on creative interventions that foster a balanced relationship between people and the land. Events held at our co-founder’s privately owned ranch highlight leadership in sustainable architecture, land restoration, and wildlife management practices.
PEOPLE
Rachel Farrington
Executive Director and Vice Chair
Rachel is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and designer with additional experience in interiors, landscape design, and construction management. She holds an MFA from Azusa Pacific University.
Riley Triggs
Board Chair
Riley is an architect, urbanist, and design educator currently serving as the lead project manager for the City of Austin's Convention Center Redevelopment project. He holds architecture degrees from the University of Texas and Rice University.
Kelly Purkey
Board Secretary
Kelly is a wildlife biologist and the Refuge Manager at Balcones National Wildlife Refuge in the Texas Hill Country.
PLACE
La Cuna is located in Art, Texas, approximately 90 minutes west of both Austin and San Antonio. The Llano Uplift, a distinct region within the Texas Hill Country, spans about 90 miles in diameter and is shaped by an ancient Precambrian granite dome. The area's sub-tropical climate is marked by cyclical droughts and floods. Prior to the 1600s, the Uplift was predominantly woodlands (60-70%) interspersed with rolling plains. However, 19th- and 20th-century ranching practices, including clearcutting, overstocking, and overgrazing, eroded soil and altered the region's plant, wildlife, and water systems. At our founder's property, we are collaborating with Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists and our local Master Naturalists chapter to research best practices for mitigating these impacts. Our findings, along with insights from local ranchers, landowners, and experts, will inform our educational efforts and guide sustainable practices in the region.
