A Creative Journey with Mallory Weston

As part of our Centennial celebrations, the ATC is piloting a new Artist in Residence program, and we’re thrilled to introduce Mallory Weston as our inaugural artist! This year, Mallory will set out on a thru-hike to gather inspiration from the Appalachian Trail and create works of art based on her experience.  

Ahead of her upcoming thru-hike, we had the opportunity to sit down with Mallory to discuss how the A.T. is already influencing her creative process, what she hopes to discover on the Trail, and how this unique residency will shape her art. 

Getting to Know Mallory Weston 

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your personal connection to the A.T.? 

Mallory: Sure! I’m an artist living in Philadelphia, and I’m a professor of jewelry and metalsmithing at Tyler School of Art and Architecture. I also share a studio with other metalsmiths here in the city. 

I grew up in New Jersey, about 40 minutes from the Delaware Water Gap. I didn’t spend much time on the A.T. as a kid or even really know what it was until I got to college. But in the past few years, as I’ve gotten more interested in hiking, I’ve gone back to that area a lot. The Delaware Water Gap section always feels like home to me whenever I visit. 

Preparing for the Journey 

Q: How are you preparing both physically and creatively for your thru-hike? 

Mallory: Creatively, I’ve intentionally avoided forcing any ideas before I hit the Trail. I want to let my inspiration unfold as the experience itself evolves. Over the last year and a half, I’ve made a series of brooches inspired by my section hike on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), along with a zine trail journal to accompany them. So, my personal work has already started to shift toward backpacking and hiking themes. 

I also designed a limited-edition pin for the ATC’s Centennial celebration, which was a fun warm-up project for this whole experience. 

Physically, I’ve kept up a regular running routine. I ran my first marathon last year and have tried to maintain a schedule of running 3–4 times a week, though it can be tough with my teaching and studio time. Living in Philadelphia means I walk almost everywhere, so I stay pretty active day-to-day. I’ve done multi-week backpacking trips before, so I feel confident about easing into the physical demands of a thru-hike. 

Nature and the Creative Process 

Q: What role does nature play in your creative process, and what specific aspects of the outdoors inspire you? 

Mallory: Nature plays a huge role in my work! I primarily work with metal, especially titanium, and make large-scale wearables and art for the body. My work has explored animal forms, like snake patterns, and I’ve been fascinated by the duality that snakes represent—growth and transformation, but also danger. 

In recent years, I’ve been intrigued by the houseplant craze. That led me to explore plant forms in my designs, especially leaves. 

I’m excited to see how the ecosystems and environments along the A.T. will influence and possibly redirect my work. I’m especially curious about what I’ll learn about the biology and landscapes I’ll pass through. 

Letting the Trail Shape the Work 

Q: How has the A.T. shaped your work, or how do you think it might? 

Mallory: I think the Trail will inspire me deeply, but I’m trying to approach the experience with an open mind rather than expectations. One of the things I love about hiking is the mental space it creates—you have one task: moving forward. That simplicity allows your mind to wander, to follow ideas sparked by the things you see or experience, and to explore those thoughts fully. 

So, I’m hoping to let ideas evolve naturally during the hike, keeping a journal and other forms of documentation, and then see where it leads me when I’m back in the studio. 

Adapting the Artistic Process

Q: How will you adapt your creative process to the Trail environment? Will you be metalsmithing on the A.T.? 

Mallory: A lot of people have asked if I’ll be taking a mini toolkit with me to work on the Trail, but the answer is no. Metalsmithing needs such a specific studio setup that it’s just not realistic. 

Instead, I see this thru-hike as a way to gather inspiration, observations, and raw material for new work once I’m back in Philadelphia. I plan to document the experience through writing and photography, and I’m also exploring some more unconventional tools like 3D scanning surfaces, which could later become part of my work. 

I want to be mindful of Leave No Trace principles, so I won’t be collecting physical materials from the Trail, but I’m excited to see how the sights, sounds, and experiences I capture whether through writing, photography, or digital scans will translate into jewelry, wearables, or even sculpture when I return. 

Advice for Trail-Inspired Artists 

Q: Do you have any advice for people who may be inspired to create art after spending time on the A.T., but might feel intimidated or unsure where to start? 

Mallory: Yeah, don’t be intimidated if you don’t consider yourself an artistic person. You don’t have to be good at it right away. What matters is what the act of creating allows you to process from your time on the Trail. I think a lot of people hold themselves back because they’re worried about not being “good enough,” but it’s really about expression. 

Start with something that feels natural to you—whether it’s music, visual art, or something else. If you’re drawn to a particular medium, go with that. But, if you’re motivated, don’t be afraid to push yourself into something new, even if it feels uncomfortable. When I worked on a trail journal, I felt weird about it, but I had a goal to connect it to my visual art. 

You can try something new, but make sure you have a plan and a goal to guide you. The key is not letting fear stop you from creating. Start small, be curious, and let the experience inspire your art. 

Follow Mallory’s Hike 

You can follow Mallory’s journey on Instagram and explore her work on her website www.malloryweston.com.