Artist Statement
My artistic piece expresses my perspective because it shows how I see my home state and my place. First of all, The biggest picture is represents how I see the Colorado flag; water below us, open, blue skies above us, and mountains everywhere in between with the big ole Colorado ‘C’ smack dab in the middle. The picture of the heart shows how I feel like Colorado will always be right in my heart and how the mountains are always in and coming from my heart. I was born and raised in the best place on earth-Colorado so it’ll always be a huge part of my heart. syringe in my art piece with the mountains, sky, and Colorado ‘C’ inside. This was represented by one of my favorite parts of my essay; “Who needs 420 when you can have 14,000? Who needs weed, crack or heroin? I have altitude, adrenaline, and the high of reaching the top of the mountain. This is my drug. This is my addiction.” I think I showed my sense of place and how I feel in a good way. I feel like I really refined both my essay and visual from when I started. My visual didn’t have much other than my sense of place. My final piece defends my sense of place, which is the great outdoors which I’m “rooted to”. Also my environmental ethics; preservationism and sustainability. I made all parts come together cohesively by incorporating the Colorado ‘C’ into each of the three pictures. They are each done with a different artistic medium; one with acrylic paint, one with oil pastels, and one with colored pencils. My work was inspired by my life in Colorado. I utilize the outdoors as much as I can. Whether its hiking, backpacking, camping, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, 4x4-ing, or just getting out into the wild. Being born in Durango, Colorado really influences a lot of my feelings. I’m very grateful for where I was born and raised. As well as my surroundings and my fresh air environment. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful and crisp place to spend my life. Project Reflection The assignment for this project was to find our sense of place and express it through an essay and a visual piece. We also had to express what our “environmental ethic” is and what our category of sense of place is. My environmental ethics are that I want to preserve and sustain our outdoor environment for many future generations. What we did leading up to exhibition was read some examples of Edward Abbey’s nature writing, some energy/environmental pieces, and initially writing our “inspiration journals”. One of which included going outdoors and writing about what’s surrounding you and what your senses find. I hiked up Animas Mountain for about 2 or 3 hours then sat and wrote for probably 30 or 40 minutes. I got about 1.5 to 2 pages of writing. For me, this one journal ended up being about half of my essay. Once I got back to school, I busted out about 700 words in half an hour. After I had a solid grasp on my writing piece, I started my visual piece. This Consisted of 3 pictures I drew to portray how I feel about my home state of Colorado. Like I said, the bulk of my inspiration came from the journal I had written. I am actually very proud of the way my essay and visual express my sense of place. I didn’t really have too many challenges in the writing process. I kind of just let my writing, feelings and senses flow. Having known what I wanted to focus on made it all so much easier. Once I had the chance to start writing, I just went at it. I was on a roll. If I came to a standstill in my writing, I would just go back to my inspiration or build off of what I already had established. I had gone on a hike prior to this writing task, and I knew that this is where I belong. So when you have that feeling, you can't help but let it flow and express it. What I am most proud of is that both my visual pieces and my essay express exactly what I wanted them to express. I feel like my sense of place was very much represented by my essay because it really shows what I see and how I feel when I am consumed by my place. I feel like I really grew in my nature writing abilities. I think I actually started pretty strong, but overall I think I really showed what I wanted to show. I also think my visual piece really showed a lot of what I feel. Each piece has a certain representation. One example is the syringe in my art piece with the mountains, sky, and Colorado ‘C’ inside. This was represented by one of my favorite parts of my essay; “Who needs 420 when you can have 14,000? Who needs weed, crack or heroin? I have altitude, adrenaline, and the high of reaching the top of the mountain. This is my drug. This is my addiction.” I think I showed my sense of place and how I feel in a good way. I think I had a lot of evidence of nature writing as well as describing my environmental ethic as well. I actually really enjoyed both Chemistry and Humanities during this joint project. Even though I didn’t integrate my perspective on energy into my essay, I still gained A LOT from both classes. I came out of each with a strong understanding of energy, its effects, my sense of place, and how I want our environment to be treated. I think the complexity came with finding ways to express some of my ideas, and also in the learning of the scientific areas. Each part of these projects had relevancy to me. I feel like I grew all around in each part of this project. |
It Isn't Called the Great Outdoors for Nothing By Keagan Felker ABSTRACT: The environmental ethics that I feel like apply most to me are preservationism and sustainability. I feel that we need to preserve our outdoors-We need our grandchildren’s grandchildren to be able to feel just as rooted to the woods as the countless species of trees are. This also shows which category of sense of place I represent; “rootedness” and sort of a spiritual connection to my environment. “To me, a hike is more than just a walk in the woods; it is my connection into the wild-the untamed and uncut wilderness, the freshness and crispness of the outdoor air and atmosphere as a whole.” We need to keep these roots feeding the towering trees that are scattered atop the mountains. The mountains that give me my home give me my sense of place. They don't call it the “great outdoors” for nothing. Some people may ask, “But what’s so great about going out into the wilderness with nothing but the pack on your back, and some hiking boots?” My response to that will always be the same: the greatness comes from the freedom it allows us - from the freshness - the crisp woodland air - the breeze that cools you off during a long hike, the raw beauty and glory of what God has created - the untouched freshness of the nature surrounding me - the fact that it’s where I love to be. As I trek farther and farther along the trail and into serenity, I become enveloped in my place. The blackout of billowing rain clouds envelop me as I weave through the towering red rock cliffs around me. Hulking boulders, the skyscraping ponderosa pines, the intertwined patches of scrub oak and the vast beauty and complexity of the natural system working around me are belittling as I become more and more humbled by their sheer majority. As I hike higher and deeper, I begin to grasp the fact that I am encompassed by mountains on all sides of me. The feeling of sheer adrenaline-love, and serenity are more apparent the moment I trek to a higher elevation. I love getting high above our little mountain town. Who needs 420 when you can have 14,000? Who needs weed, crack or heroin? I have altitude, adrenaline, and the high of reaching the top of the mountain. This is my drug. This is my addiction. Everything seems to flow and go at its own pace. There’s no rush, no threat of being late and no threat of meeting deadlines. The vast species of birds, mammals large and small, trees, plants and rocks are my outdoor companions. The sounds of songbirds performing in their own choir - grosbeaks, robins, the thump of a woodpecker’s beak against wood, nuthatches, piñon jays. They all perform for the audience of nature around them; singing, chirping, cackling. The scent of vanilla emanating from the imposing ponderosa around me, the smell of decaying leaves, moss and dirt on the woodland floor. The sounds of town fade as I set forth farther down the trail in search of my weekly dose of peace and serenity. This is exactly what I need. This is a long overdue hike in my opinion. I knew I loved the outdoors for some reason, and I am now aware of exactly what it is. The outdoors are breathtaking in every way imaginable. They are not only stimulating, but appealing to all of my senses - the smells, sights, sounds, how it all feels is so natural and perfect to me. Even in its imperfections; the twisted, gnarled trees, dead leaves, raw dirt, shattered rock as boulders, shale and scree fields. It all seems so beautiful in my eyes, in my heart, in my soul. Edward Abbey, an American nature writer and environmental advocate said, “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.”[1] His words really capture how I feel about my sense of place. It shows that a connection to the wilderness is necessary for the well-being of our spirits and souls. The wilderness seems to be the only thing holding itself together today. Cities crumble under their own weight, and under the weight of consumerism, media, industrialization and propaganda. When we continue to construct city upon city, we commit deforestation. When we commit deforestation, we are losing trees. When we lose trees, we are susceptible to more mud and rock slides. The tree roots and boulders are keeping more than the soil from slipping away – they hold us from slipping away. We can’t help but bask in the sheer beauty of our own backyards. The wild is accepting of all who show it love. Whether you enjoy the outdoors right in our backyards (like right here in Durango) or if you’re from the big city. The mountains love us unconditionally, so why don’t we do the same for them? We need to respect the outdoors as much as they have been respected for so long; how could they have lasted this long? The outdoors have been preserved thus far by love and passion. The feeling of place in our minds, our hearts, and our souls. We need to preserve this love Mother Nature has provided to us. We need to care for it as much as we can. Even more. Let’s overachieve! Let’s show it the same respect we show other living beings. After all, we’re all living on this earth as one and thus we need to sustain the outdoors for as long as possible. With this, we can pass the responsibility for respect on to our next generations. What the earth needs from us in return is some good old TLC. We need to show our home lands some tender loving care. Even if we can’t completely eliminate the air pollution and pollutants in our atmosphere, we can always pick up our litter, respect our lands, take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. We all know that one. We can always try-it’s worth a shot. We owe it to our society-not just industrially, but naturally. We will not let this flame burn out- It needs to burn as hot as we can keep it for as long as we can. When I’m in the back-country, what I feel is more than just the thrill of the hike- I feel complete and utter freedom, peace, and a sense of place. To me, a hike is more than just a walk in the woods; it is my connection into the untamed and uncut wilderness, the freshness and crispness of the outdoor air and atmosphere as a whole. The connection that I feel to the place I call home is far stronger than the connection I've ever felt to any city, town, or countryside. When I’m surrounded by pines, junipers, boulders, mountains and more animals and plants than I could ever count or name, I feel like I’m right where I need to be. Sometimes I feel like the over-protective father - only wanting the best for my environment - waiting for the right person to care for it as much as I do. I believe that having been born and raised in such an amazing and natural outdoor environment is what has given me such a deep rooted connection with all that surrounds me including the La Plata Mountain range, the Needles range east of Durango Mountain Resort, and Engineer Mountain to the north. All I hope is that our outdoor environment will have the same care in a hundred years as it does now. I would love for my grandchildren’s grandchildren to be able to hike the same trails and woods as I do now. The memories I have, and the memories I have yet to create are what inspire and compel me to support our environment. Every fishing trip to Vallecito, Lemon, Molas and Haviland bring great memories of my father, my uncle, my grandpa and I having a great day at the lake. The feeling of waking up at 3:45 in the morning to go hunting gives me a thrill every time. Sure there’s a lot to do, and of course I’m barely half awake! But after getting dressed, and loading up our packs for a long day of hiking and hunting, I’m ready to head for the mountains by 4 something in the morning to get out before the elk begin moving around. Whether our hunt is successful or not, it is always the experience that I find most meaningful. I mean I get to spend a full day out in the open, crisp air and thick woods doing what I love with who I love. This is what makes me feel at home. I feel connected in my heart, my mind, and my soul. When I’m consumed by my place, this is where I find my roots. [1] "Edward Abbey Quote." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 14 May 2014. |
Energy and Place Project
Essential Questions:
1. How does energy production impact* place?
2. How does your sense of place**, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions regarding energy production