Re-imagining the Sense of Place: Journal Explorations in Art and Writing

Exploring tensions between "space" and "place," this multimedia journal workshop seeks to open the imaginative experience of more-than-human nature. By de-centering our familiar modern, objective perspective of "environment," participants work with abstract art, sketch, collage, and written forms such as haiku, lament, story and personal reflection. Participants will explore and co-create the interrelatedness of humans and the more-than-human world. By highlighting the deep and recent human history of the Cascade Head area, we connect questions of place-making to the broader environmental challenges confronting our current generation.

Jen brings a wide variety of techniques to explore the intersections between humans and environment: in situ observation, sketching, and written reflection, group discussion, and hands-on exploration of technique in water media, collage, and literary forms. Workshop days will toggle between time spent outdoors and in-studio sessions in writing and art. Participants will leave with a partially-filled journal to launch future explorations.

For drawing:

6-12 watercolor pencils, any colors

One sketch pencil

One stubby charcoal OR conte crayon

One thick graphite stick such as caran’dache or cretacolor chunky stick

3-7 watercolor crayons, any color

One white Posca Pen (or another brand indelible white opaque pen)

Sketch pens—one waterproof (such as micron) one water soluble (many others). Each in black. Additional colors optional.

For painting:

One small set of any quality watercolor pans

Small and medium round brushes

3-5 gouache tubes (primary colors plus white)

One open palette

One small squirt bottle

For collage:

Small pair of scissors

Glue (Recommended: Tombow Multi liquid glue)

Stillman and Birn multimedia sketch journals, one per student

Maps (inc. Xerox copies) of Cascade head area—modern and vintage

Art books / oral histories of local area / local botanical and faunal reference guides

Various papers for collaging

Base palette of acrylic colors in tubes

Acrylic medium

Inks and extra brushes