Mountains and Rivers Media
Rewilding the Human Imagination®
John Canan photographing the Allegheny Front, Bear Rocks Preserve, West Virginia
John Canan photographing the Allegheny Front, Bear Rocks Preserve, West Virginia

John Canan

I am the founder and operator of Mountains and Rivers Media, which is a media arts production business that creates thoughtful and profound communications media assets for community, conservation, and place-focused organizations. I steer our business along its mission which is Rewilding the human imagination ® through the creation and distribution of immersive photography and visual communication media directly through our clients communications and editorial content. 


Recent press coverage of my work in the Frederick News Post.


Lebenskuenstler is the title given name to me by the author, scholar, Zen teacher, and friend, Dr. Glenn Wallis. 

A lebenskuenstler is one of those untranslatable words in German, but is essentially someone who is a “life artist”--through a self-awareness and self-reflection, manages to understand oneself and the world around them in any given situation in life and finds oneself. I use this life artistry to slowly, quietly and almost imperceptibly Rewild the human imagination and restoring our sense of place within the natural world and our local communities. 


Words shared by others:

“His approach focuses on creating imagery that fully engages people and invites them to deepen their connections with their communities, the natural environment."  

“John’s work begins and ends with me saying two simple words, ‘thank you’.”


A selection of exhibits that my work has been in are:

National Geographic Museum, Washington, DC

“Global Art Local Focus” 

              

Art Along the Trail Juried Exhibition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Boonsboro,  Maryland                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Maryland Waterways Exhibition

Gaithersburg, Maryland


Washington County Maryland Arts Council

“Through the Lens” 

Hagerstown, Maryland

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

American Photographic Artists

“Featured Artist”, Exhibit, “Mountain Makers: Renowned Artists from South Mountain, Maryland”

APA National with Adobe (two times). APA National's website