The Art & Nature Of...

For centuries, artists have taken inspiration from nature and scientists have used art as a method of documentation. In this class, participants will take on the role of scientist and artist as we explore the intersection of art and nature.

Each session we will be joined by local experts, including Newfields staff who are in fields such as dendrology (trees and shrubs), mycology (mushrooms and fungus), ornithology (birds), geology (rocks, minerals, and land formations), and more.

Schedule:

August 8: Fish (Ichthyology)

Go fishing with Clint to learn about fish native to Indiana including what they eat and how we can help protect them.

Art Project: Gyotaku (Japanese Fish Printing)

In the early 1800s Japanese fisherman would apply sumi ink to their freshly caught fish and transfer the image to a sheet of rice paper. Over the years this utilitarian method of record keeping developed into an artform. We will be using silicon fish molds and sumi ink to create our base prints and then bring the fish to life through the use of color.

October 10: Rocks (Geology)

Join a Newfields expert to learn about the geology of the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Art Project: Watercolor Field Sketch

Geologists often use field sketches as a way to gain a deeper understanding of the land. Whether focusing on a broader landscape or a single rock, the use of creative observation has the power to inform scientific understanding. Using pencil, pen, and watercolor we will capture the color and form of the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.