Land Arts of the American West 2014 // Watershed

Land Arts of the American West (LAAW) program at University of New Mexico is going into its 15th year of programming, providing students with unique opportunities to experiment within a field-based artistic practice, while being embedded in place/s of the American Southwest.

The Fall 2014 LAAW field itinerary will explore the topic of Watershed, including investigations of water relations in the Southwest and a collaborative field-based project with ecological restoration expert, Joel Glanzberg. Students will travel and camp throughout the Rio Grande Watershed, from its headwaters to the US/Mexico Border, explore Gila River riparian ecology, and spend time with the Dixon Water Foundation in the Marfa Basin.

During the semester, students conduct research, engage in field investigations, undertake creative artistic projects, and complete a final exhibition of their works.

Itinerary

Field #1 Journey
August 25 - 27 – Valle de Oro, Albuquerque, New Mexico
August 28 – Sept 1 – Rio Grande Headwaters, Colorado
September 2 - 3 – Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
September 4 – 7 – El Vado Dam/Lake, New Mexico

Field #2 Journey
September 15 - 19 – Gila, Turkey Springs, New Mexico
September 20 - 22 – Elephant Butte and Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico September 23 - 27 – Valle de Oro, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Field #3 Journey
October 13 - 15 – Rio Grande Border, El Paso/Juarez, Texas
October 16 – 19 – Indio Mountain Research Station, Texas
October 20 - 24 – Dixon Water Foundation, Marfa, Texas

December 1 - December 12 - Land Arts of the American West Exhibition

See LAAW 2013 Highlights for projects, investigations, and final exhibition from 2013

Watershed Bounding

Invasive, Cedra Wood. 2011

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Watershed Bounding is a collection of work from the practice of field–based artists who locate their creative process and critical inquiry in the ecologic conditions of “Place”. Showcased in this exhibition are works from Land Arts of the American West alumni, faculty, and visiting artists curated around the theme of Watershed. Alongside this is the international traveling exhibition, “Boundless Horizons,” which samples work from partnering field-based art studio programs like Australian National University, Field Studies and Mira Costa College, Landmarks of Art, from San Diego.

Participating artists include: Amanda Stuart, Amelia Zaraftis, Bill Gilbert, Heike Qualitz, John Reid, Marzena Wasikowska, Yoshi Hayashi, Cedra Wood, Chitra Sangtani, Chrissie Orr, Erika Osborne, Geordie Shepherd, Jeanette Hart-Mann, Lauren Greenwald, Lea Andresson, Randal Romwalter, Ryan Henel, Eric Cook

Land Arts of the American West (http://landarts.unm.edu/) at the University of New Mexico, is an ongoing experiment and interdisciplinary model for creative and critical arts pedagogy based in place. This program puts students in direct contact with “place” of the American Southwest through Field Investigations, Research, Creative Production, and Public Presentation/Dissemination of projects. During the program, students travel extensively throughout the Southwest for over 60 days, while camping and investigating environmental sites, human habitation systems, and questions facing the region. Methodologies include the melding of direct experience, critical research, creative inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, and artistic production. Recent topics of investigations have focused on issues of the Rio Grande Watershed, US/Mexico Border, Foodshed, Utopian Architecture, and Eminent Domain.

Opening Reception

May 3, 2014 

3 pm - 5pm

May 3 - June 29, 2014

Open Space Visitors Center

6500 Coors Blvd NW

Albuquerque, NM

Hours

Tuesday through Sunday, 9am - 5pm

For more information contact

Josh Willis

505-897-8856

jrwillis@cabq.gov

2013 Land Arts of the American West Begins

The 2012 Land Arts of the American West is departing on some wonderful and productive adventures this fall.  We look forward to sharing our experiences and travels with you.  Please find our schedule and voyage details below.  Be sure to check back as we add more information on our experiences.

Guest Adrian Oglesby discusses Southwest Water Laws with UNM Land Arts students at the Rio Grande Nature Center.

UNM Land Arts Students visit the Southside Wastewater Reclamation Plant in Albuquerque, NM.

UNM Land Arts Students visit the 3rd largest outlet into the Rio Grande at the Southside Wastewater Reclamation Plant in Albuquerque, NM.

Week 1 & 2:
Guests: 
Regina Carlow
Joel Glanzberg
Catherine Harris
Basia Irland
Jack Loeffler
Adrian Oglesby

Site Visits:
Rio Grande Nature Center
Southside Wastewater Reclamation Plant
UNM Research Facilities

Journey #1:
September 2nd - 7th: Rio Grande Headwaters, Colorado
September 8th - 11th - El Valle, NM - with William DeBuys
September 12th - 17th - El Vado Lake, El Vado Dam, San Juan Diversion
September 18th - 23rd - Anton Chico, NM - Fodder Project CRF and SeedBroadcast Collaborative Project with Bill Fox
September 24th - Return to Albuquerque

Journey #2:
October 5th - 9th - Cebolla Canyon, El Malpais, NM
October 8th - 9th - Lightning Field
October 10th - 14th - Turkey Creek, Gila NM
October 15th - 19th - El Paso, TX - Border/Watershed Collaborative
October 20th - 22nd - Otero Mesa, NM with Patrick Manning
October 23rd - 25th - Marfa, TX
October 26th - Return to Albuquerque










2013 Participants:
Bill Gilbert
Jeanette Hart-Mann
Lara Goldmann
Emily Gonzales
Randal Romwalter
Andre Liptay
Chitra Sangtani
Carina Schnieders
Elizabeth Shores
Margaret Shuster