As a mildly artsy person and nature lover, I was very excited to see Greenly Spirits on the Honors seminar list for spring 2014. This course was not only informative, but a nice break from the general flow of my science and English classes. As a DAAP class, we incorporated art into our weekly discussions about the sublime and artists' views on nature. During discussions, we often examined paintings and photographs from various time periods and how they reflected nature. Instead of a typical lecture style class, we were assigned to a partner and had to master the information for one week. However, a PowerPoint presentation was not permitted and we had to use creativity! We were in charge of leading discussion, creating an activity for the class, and covering all of the information in the weekly readings. Click the link below to see my group presentation on the sublime, attention and ecstasy.
Another really cool aspect of the course was going on field trips! Although I was only able to attend one of the field trips, it was an experience I would not have done without Honors. Our class traveled to Homemeadow Song Farm where we learned about organic farming techniques, pet some adorable sheep, and even painted trees with manure to protect them from the summer ahead! The farm is surprisingly in the middle of the city but has a completely country vibe. We learned a lot from the farmers at Homemeadow Song Farm about how they live a natural life and how to live an organic life in the city. I was intrigued to see that the farm even had a program for home schooled or Montessori students! The farm has a classroom and an outdoor learning center for the students which I thought was great. I would love to volunteer their some time. Overall, Greenly Spirits gave me a new perspective on nature and science that I can use as a future science teacher. One of my goals is to teach science in a creative way that focusses on state standards but also gives students the freedom to express their opinions of science through art. Greenly Spirits was a great first step to my personal development of science methods and a continuation of my love for nature!
Nature Visitations
For this seminar, we were asked to visit one spot, at least 50 feet from our house, that was in nature. We were to write about our experiences and record our thoughts feelings during the visitation. At the beginning of this journey, I started out observing the Hauk Botanical Gardens. As the Polar Vortex ravaged Ohio and virtually made it impossible to go outside, I got creative with my visitations. My 1st, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 10th visitations all took place at the Hauk Botanical Gardens. When my schedule or weather permitted otherwise, I found myself exploring nature on campus or at my home in Lewis Center, Ohio. Although this aspect of my visitations does not exactly follow the set requirements, I think it adds an interesting aspect to my collection. We should be able to explore nature anywhere, not on our schedule but on the schedule of the Earth. This project made me a better writer and allowed me to think on my feet, explore the world around me, and leave a little time for nature. Even though the Hauk Botanical Gardens seemed out of reach at times, I somehow made it back when I could. Nature writing is something I hope to continue in the future and make time for, wherever I am. Please explore my visitations below.
For our final project, we were challenged to create a work that included concepts we learned in class and then create a work (through any medium) which incorporated those concepts. For my project, I was inspired by the sublime, Sigurd F. Olson, Annie Dillard, and John Burroughs, along with my Lewis Center backyard. These inspirations lead to a series of photos accompanied by free form poetry. Click the links below to view my project, as well as my written commentary!