Wide Open Studios is an immersive art and ecology program that invites students to explore their studio practice in wilderness locations, amidst an atmosphere of friendship and critical thinking. Our curriculum is centered on the natural and cultural histories of the sites we visit, and the possibilities of making art in — and in response to — wild places. Individual and collaborative projects invite students to see the wild as a place of wonder, empowerment, action and connection.
Our 2017 theme of folklore and storytelling looks to ways in which these traditions inform our relationship to place, peoples, and the natural world. Through the lens of oral histories and written stories, we will examine the naming of places, claims to land ownership, histories of contested landscapes, and ties to natural resources. This year’s Summer Immersion Trip takes us to the Nez Perce homeland of Eastern Oregon’s Blue Mountains and the Idaho/Montana Bitterroots. The legends of the Nimi’ipuu will provide an introduction to this land of rugged mountains, clear streams and thickly timbered forests. As we hike and camp throughout the region, we will introduce stories from French fur trappers, Chinese gold miners and others who have shaped the land and influenced the culture in these mountains. We will also discuss the role of artists as storytellers and consider how it contributes to a deeper understanding of The American West.
This class combines practical instruction on backcountry travel with art projects, readings and discussions. The structure of the course is immersive: students will travel together for the duration, embarking on a sequence of backpacking and camping trips separated by brief resupply stops. Through individual and collaborative projects, students will experience the potential of relocating their studio practice, working on-site and far from civilization. Visiting artists and scholars will add to our inquiry. This is not a course in survivalism, but will impart basic skills of preparation and self-sufficiency for safe and ethical wilderness travel. Students will complete a significant self-directed project, combining course content with research and their existing interests. The class will culminate in a 36-hour ‘solo,’ a period of stillness and solitude for self-reflection.
Participants: Tilke Elkins,Ashley Fenderson, Christiana Hedlund, Olivia Güthling, Lena Klett, Kelly Moody, Shay Myerson, Ellen Petruzzella, Alfredo Villegas.
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