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Lesson Plans


A&E.A

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Graciela N Kumar (gkumar)
Wed, 15 Oct 1997 14:09:41 -0700 (MST)

After looking through the web page, we thought about ecological design.
Barbara Westfall is the artist of "Gathering Places." She restores her
family's farm to "demonstrate that art, ecology, and culture are
interconnected." This idea is great but, can anyone who likes to garden
and farm be an artist and an environmentalist? These people have to work
just as hard to get their final crops. How is the work by by Barbara
Westfall different?
What is the message you get when you think about "Gathering Places?" What
ideas do you have on ecological restoration and other artists involved? If
you know of a website that has a picture of "Gathering Places" please let
us know.

After surveying the entire Getty art and ecology web page, I am confused.
It seems to me that there is a fine line in between being environmentally
concerned and acting on that concern and art. For example, Barbara
Westfall's, "Gathering Places," is simply restoring a little bit of nature
and bringing the community together to discuss their environment.
True, Westfall also brought the community together to talk about
nature but don't environmentalists do that on a daily basis? That
could be a definition of ecological art but many people plant trees and
garden, but is that art? If anyone out there can simplify this for me it
would be greatly appreciated. I do not want to get into the age old
argument of what art is, but how would one seperate between these two
statements above? If anyone also has some information on Barbara Westfall
and her work, please respond.

Grace gkumar
Angela achampio
Art 361 students UofA