This is not a static document! Subject to change as life happens. Check back weekly for updates. The second half of the semester will be filled in as we get closer to it.
Unless noted, we will meet in the AC 218 classroom. Unless noted. Then please note.
Week 1.
Atlas was a Titan Too
T 2/3 Welcome! Introduction to this class, to the Art Department, to the concept of Place, to our assignments, and to the instructor (me). Just bring yourself. And please take this short survey sometime before the next class.
Th 2/5 How I got here: The Tri-State Tour. What are artists maps? We’ll look at a few. And then we’ll make a few. Bring art supplies. Also bring Map Art Lab & From Here to There books. We’ll also discuss our survey results (no worries: it’s anonymous) and a great little book called Steal Like an Artist. (Related video and article.)
Reading: Excerpt from Living Where You Live by Hannah Holmes. (I-3). Also The Sense of Place: Where the Bluebird Sings by Wallace Stegner. (I-3). Reflection due to D2L by the end of the day February 9.
Week 2.
They Were Here First
T 2/10 Guest lecture: Dr. Jeffery A. Behm, Associate Professor, Religious Studies and Anthropology. Dr. Behm is an archaeologist who is very familiar with the deep history of this area. He will give an informative summary of local archaeology, which is sure to change the way you see this area. Quick map TBA. Discussion of Steal Like an Artist.
Th 2/12 Meet at Oshkosh Public Museum at 9 a.m. (Note later start.)
Reading: Excerpt from In Praise of Hometowns by Mary Pipher. (I-8). Mapping the Biosphere by Gene Marshall (V-3). Reflection due to D2L by the end of the day February 16.
Week 3.
People & Place / Design Basics
T 2/17 Guest lecture: Dr. Paul Van Auken, Sociology and Environmental Studies Faculty, Chair of Sociology Department. Dr. Van Auken will discuss research strategies that incorporate maps and images and give examples of some really cool projects he’s done. Introduce bus route map assignment. (Route information here.) Museum response.
Th 2/19 Steal Like an Artist. Studio session follows. Quick maps #2. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies. Bring Map Art Lab book.
Reading: Excepts from Mapping the Sacred Places by Jan DeBlieu (V-5). I, Mercator by Stephen S. Hall and Two Maps of Boylan Heights by Denis Wood. Reflection due to D2L by the end of the day February 23.
Week 4.
Wherever You Go, There You Are
T 2/24 Mapping Tables group exercise. Guest Lecture: Mary Madden, Social Worker/Business Owner/Community Volunteer/Alumni Mentor. Quick maps #2. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies.Bring Map Art Lab book. Introduce Personal Transit Map.
Th 2/26 Studio session: Mapping UWO in Real Time. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies. Lynda.com assignment. (Log on to Lynda here.) Please review selected videos before we meet in the computer lab on Monday.
Reading: The United States of Nature by William Stolzenburg (12). Land Ethic by Aldo Leopold (II-3). Geology of Portland, by Marshall Gannett (III-17). Reflection due to D2L by the end of the day March 2.
Week 5.
“Living with computers gives funny ideas.”
T 3/3 Meet in Swart 229 Mac Lab. Crash course in Adobe Illustrator, Day #1. Bring and share your completed GO Transit Bus Route Maps. Introduction to our Community Experience project.
Th 3/5 Meet in Swart 229 Mac Lab. Crash course in Adobe Illustrator, Day #2. More information about next week’s Community Experience project.
Reading: The Web of Life by Scott Russell Sanders (VI-3). Home is Other People by Mary Pipher (VI-5). Reflection due to D2L by the end of the day March 9.
Week 6.
Gathering Information
T 3/10 Interview day #1: whole class will meet at Oshkosh Seniors Center, South Building
Th 3/12 Interview day #2: whole class will meet at Oshkosh Seniors Center, South Building
Reading: There’s No Specialization Like Home: Making a Career out of the Place You Live by John K. Bullard (IV-9). Making a Difference by Katrina Shields (VII-3). Reflection due to D2L by the end of the day March 16.
Week 7.
Swimming in Data
T 3/17 Guest lecture about swimming in data from digital artist Joshua Albers. Elements and Principles of Design. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies: we will discuss last week’s activities and move forward on ideation regarding our Community Experience map concepts. (Definition of Ideation: “the process of forming ideas or images.”)
Th 3/19 Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies: we’ll work in small groups on initial Community Experience map concepts. Please hand in your Personal Atlas sketchbooks at the end of class–including completed Personal Transit Map assignment. I will look at them over Spring Break and return them to you on March 31st.
Reading: None. Happy Spring Break!
Spring Break / March 24 & 26
Week 8.
T 3/31 Guest lecture from photographer Don Stolley. Bring art supplies. Personal Atlas sketchbooks returned. Continue working on Community Experience Mapping: Groups project: namely, start on the map for interview #2 (3/12). Introduce second half of semester. An assignment for you: how can we use the all of the info we gathered at the Seniors Center to make a single map? Is that even possible? How would you do this if you were in charge of the group? 24 students. 22 seniors.
Th 4/2 Instructor away; no class held today. Don’t forget that the brainstorming assignment listed above is due by the end of the day Monday 4/6.
Week 9.
T 4/7 Meet in Swart 229 Mac Lab. Enter data from Mapping UWO in Real Time. (No worries: I have the form you collected info on.) Progress on our Community Experience Map (and possibly other things.)
Th 4/9 Meet in Swart 229 Mac Lab. We will discuss next steps regarding our Community Experience Map. And then you’ll use Illustrator to make a map of your own: 90 Minute Map.
Week 10.
T 4/14 Work on Community Experience Group Map. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies. (Heads up: film crew here for part of the session to record us. Look busy.)
Th 4/16 Work on Community Experience Group Maps. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies. Bring Map Art Lab book.
Week 11.
T 4/21 Guest lecture from Patrick Lake, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Using Maps, Images, and Experience to Identify Wetlands in Anthropocene.” He will show how he uses maps and satellite images to understand soil conditions and agricultural land use around Winnebago County. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies
Th 4/23 Guest lecture from Mel Kolstad, a working studio artist who uses maps. Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and art supplies
Week 12.
T 4/28 Guest lecture from photographer David Nevala. You can see his work here and here.
Th 4/30 Outdoor activity: bring Personal Atlas sketchbook and a few good tools to write with. Work on Community Experience Group Maps.
Week 13.
T 5/5 Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook, art supplies, and Map Art Lab book to complete an in class map or two. Limited time to work on group projects.
Th 5/7 Bring Personal Atlas sketchbook, art supplies, and Map Art Lab book to complete an in class map or two. Limited time to work on group projects.
Friday, May 8: Quest III showcase, 5–6 pm. (Open house format: stop by!) Extra credit for attendance. I’m going to need some help to hang our work.
Week 14.
T 5/12 Wrapping it all up. Bring and submit Personal Atlas sketchbooks. Fill out SOS. Goodbye to all this. Hello to summer adventures.
Note: Class does not meet on Thursday of this week. Your Personal Atlas sketchbooks with your course grade inside will be available after 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 14th. I’ll place them in one of our classroom closets: please pick them up within the next week at your convenience. The Art Department cannot guarantee the security of projects left over the summer.