Biography

Marianne Rose Bickett is a retired teacher, who expresses her love of nature through writing and art. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1986 with a Master’s Degree in Art Education. Marianne has taught everything from preschool through college during her 40 years as a teacher. Marianne’s emphasis has always been on connections to nature and across the curriculum learning experiences, emphasizing art, math, science, and music. Exploring the world through a multi-sensory approach is also a vital part of Marianne’s approach to teaching, learning, and living.

Married to composer Brian Belét, Marianne cherishes her son, Jacques, his wife Irish, and two young grandchildren, dividing her time between the mainland and Hawaii to be with family. She also enjoys helping her sister, Jane, on her Begin Again Ranch caring for all creatures great and small. 

Her many interests include meditation, yoga, music, long walks, poetry, art making, and advocating for the environment and for animal welfare. 

Photo of the author by Kerry McFarland of Earthdarling Portraits taken at the Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge, Oregon.

October, 2022: My true story, Owl's Rest: Encountering the Wild Where You Are, will be published soon in the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere. You can read the full article, view Resources, and download the forms at the end of the article that act as guides to finding your own special wild place by going to the Art and Nature Connections tab. See you there!

"Summer Tide", a poem I wrote about my feelings about summer months, is featured in the September 2022 Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere newsletter.

Visit PositiveNeuroplasticity.com and go to the Learning page where you can scroll down to find my image of the HEAL process from Dr. Rick Hanson's book, Neuro Dharma. I highly recommend Dr. Hanson's book based on Buddhist principals and neuroscience for a healthy brain and a more satisfied life! Dr. Hanson hosts a regular Wednesday evening meditation and talk session every week. Learn more by visiting his website!

My poem, "For Jacques" was selected by the Oregon Poetry Association for 2nd place Honorable Mention for the Spring 2022 Poetry Contest! Thank you, Jacques, for being my inspiration!

THE BIG NEWS!!! As mentioned on my Home Page: Art á la Cart: Memoir of a Wayfaring Art Teacher is NOW available!! Yay!!! Please go to the Books/Publications Tab and you'll find links to purchase!

Thank you!!! 

Kona Stories Bookstore featured my memoir on March 5 on their website, check it out!

Read my report Wolves: Biodiversity, Spirituality, and Peril, Article featured November, 2021: Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere, 

Congratulations to my sister, Penny, for being the inspiration for my poem, "Penny's Song" that won Honorable Mention in the Fall 2021 Oregon Poetry Association's Poetry Contest. 

My poem, The Cackling Geese, was featured the month of September in the following newsletter:   Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere

Thanks to Michele Guieu for her gracious support!

This poem was also featured in the Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge October 2021 newsletter.