DRAWING FROM NATURE

FULFILLS:
ARTP 383, ACE 07

THE INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Santiago Cal was born in Belize, Central America. He has had exhibitions in Barcelona, Taipei, Havana, Auckland, and New York, as well as other cities. He has been an artist in residence at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art (U.S.), Gruber-Jez Foundation (Mexico), and Poustinia Land Art Park (Belize). He received his B.F.A. in art from Kutztown University in 1995 and M.F.A. in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1998. He is currently living and working in Lincoln, Nebraska where he is Associate Professor in sculpture at The University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

“Drawing from Nature” contains two art-making practices: first, elements from nature will be used to create works of art outside in the surroundings from gathered ephemeral materials and actions; second, these temporary works will be documented using digital cameras and used as reference and inspirational for large-scale drawings. Drawing becomes a way to awaken observation and awareness on the diversity of the natural world, environmental issues, on multi-levels of perception beyond academic “realism”.

The practice of using the environment as art materials has occurred for thousands of years (The Lascaux Caves, c.15000 BC; Stonehenge, 3000BC- 2000BC; the Nazca lines in Peru, 500 BC to 500 AD) and is still being practiced by contemporary artists in the “environmental art” movement. Students join in with directed themes on the Predator and Prey, Serpents as Symbol, and Perspective of a Box Turtle. The approach is to compliment and encourage interaction and opportunities between the art and science students. Through research, sketching, discussion, and collaboration students enter the natural environment to create works of art and then concentrate with large-scale drawings to interpret and explore with contemporary meaning and application. All artworks must be non-detrimental to the environment and biodegradable.