Lucy Cooke

Capstone Proposal

Concept

My capstone, consisting of mural and sculpture, is about the benefit of fostering a positive relationship with the natural world. When in nature a person might experience a feeling of relaxation, connection to the earth and general well-being. Many studies have been done on this; One such study, by Roger S. Ulrich in 1979, showed that scenes of nature, verses scenes of urban-landscapes, promoted feelings of playfulness, friendliness and elation in participates following the mentally strenuous task of test taking (Selhub). When we recognize the restorative benefit nature has on the human psyche, we develop a connection with the earth that creates a bond worth saving and nurturing. This is a staple of the Ecopsychology movement (Roszak). This Ecotherapy, that Ecopsychology promotes, is a therapy for the human mind, but also a therapy for our connection with the earth. By creating a mutually beneficial relationship, a kind of symbiosis between the human soul (or psyche) and that of our planet, Ecopsychologists believe we will want to change our actions on a deeper and more lasting level (Roszak). The piece I will create is intended to point out that bond – the connection, peace and open-mindedness one feels while in nature.

I will make a mural and sculpture to create a 2-and-3 dimensional landscape. It will be an extension of a series of landscape and tree paintings I have done throughout my student-artist career. The imagery will be taken from my personal bond with nature. I have always had a personal connection with the natural landscape of Yosemite, from my first dip in the Tenaya River at 6 months old, to my family experiences of recreation and memorial in the high sierras, to working in Yosemite Valley. This bond of family, nature and self is the inspiration I will draw on to create my project. In combination with continuing my series of paintings, I will extend this piece into a sculpture. The landscape mural will have before it a plaster sculpture of a rock seat on which a humanoid figure will sit. This figure will have its mind open; seen literally by the bowl-like shape of its head. Out from this open mind its thoughts will be presented to visually illustrate that feeling of the peaceful moment sitting in a natural landscape. This sculptural element will expand the mural into a 3-dimensional scene; with this the viewer will be invited to place themselves in the space created by the painting.

Project description


The form my capstone will take will be an 8’ by 14’ mural, wrapping around a corner space, with the accompaniment of sculpture. The mural will be an acrylic landscape painting, in my own style, that resembles the granite mountain ranges of Yosemite. The landscape’s central focus will be a juniper tree. The tree will be positioned in the center of the painting, where the walls of the space meet. Juniper trees can be short and have multiple tops. As such, my tree will branch out, splitting at the corner into 2 or 3 branches that will spread out onto the open walls. The tree will be positioned on a granite knoll, beyond which will be an expanse of horizon. The knoll will meet the floor where the painting will extend out to where the viewer will stand. The floor will be painted grey with black and white specks to mimic the granite rocks in the scene. The horizon will be painted to appear to have a high-altitude vantage point; looking out on valleys, mountains and water ways.

The sculpture will bring in an element of the human and the surreal. A human-like figurative sculpture (I have already created) will be the center piece of my work. This human-like piece is 2.5’ tall and has a surreal bowl-shaped head that will indicate an openness of mind. In the head symbolic thoughts will be arranged. These thoughts will take the form of a combination of natural elements such as actual rocks and moss, along with man-made pieces such as cut-crystals and ceramic bobbles. These thoughts will be minimal to convey a clear-headed and relaxed state of mind. This humanoid sculpture will be painted to match the color and texture of tree bark to further represent the human-to-nature connection. It will sit on a seat, roughly 2’ or 3’ high, which will be made to resemble granite. For the seat I will use a recycled wooded chair for an understructure. I plan to retain the shape of the seat and back of the chair to be reminiscent of those granite rocks that make such comfortable resting places. The chair’s sides will be covered in wire and plaster to complete the rock facade. Lastly, the whole thing will be painted to match the mural’s granite appearance. The chair and humanoid will be placed in the corner of the space, looking out at the viewer. Around them five small (1’-1.5’ diameter) granite rock-looking sculptures will be positioned on the floor to add visual balance to the scene. All of these sculptural elements will be made from plaster with wood and wire understructures. I intend to use these sculptural elements to bring the landscape of the mural into the 3rd dimension of the viewer.

Skills

In creating this environment I will use my skills as a painter and sculptor. I have worked with acrylic paint for over a decade and have taken a class in mural painting recently. Skills such as mixing colors, preserving paint and using gel medium to extend the paints will come in to play when creating the mural aspect of this piece. In sculpture I have practice in making the understructure of wood and wire and finishing with plaster and fabric. I used this skill already in making the humanoid sculpture for the centerpiece of my project.

Site

I will require a space with 2 walls meeting in a corner. The walls and floor will be used to create the landscape of my work. The shape of this space will be used to create an immersive natural scene mimicking the open space. The site I have been given is a corner cubicle in building 70 at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB). This space is the maximum size for me to create my work. It is also adjacent to the windows, providing natural lighting that is necessary for the intended feel of my piece.

Timeline

Winter Break:

  1. Obtain necessary materials
  2. Practice using new or less familiar materials and skills in preparation for beginning project.
  3. Prep humanoid sculpture for placement (repaint, begin creating “thoughts”)

January (first week of class):

  1. Prep walls and floor for painting, including gessoing.

February:

  1. Create chair and rock under structures.
  2. Begin adding plaster to sculptures.
  3. Continue with plaster and sanding.
  4. Finish sanding, gesso sculptures and place in space.

March:

  1. Outline mural design in accordance with sculpture shapes.
  2. Fill in large blocks of color throughout mural and floor.
  3. Start adding detail to large areas.
  4. Continue details in smaller areas.

April:

  1. Paint sculptures and add details to floor.
  2. Finishing touches/details.
  3. Spring Break – Write Artist Statement
  4. Prep for capstone festival.

May:

  1. Prep for capstone festival.
  2. Graduate.

Budget

Mural/Painting:
Item Size Amount Price
Gesso Gallon 2 $60
Phthalo Blue Quart 1 $17
Ultramarine Blue Quart 1 $14
Burnt Sienna Quart 1 $14.25
Burnt Umber Pint 1 $8.50
Cadmium Red Medium Pint 1 $22
Cadmium Yellow Light Pint 1 $13.25
Indian Yellow Pint 1 $10
Medium Violet Pint 1 $9.75
Phthalo Green Pint 1 $10.25
Medium Green Pint 1 $10
Titanium White Gallon 1 $43
Mars Black Quart 1 $15.25
Matte Medium Gallon 1 $24
1/4″ Plywood 8’-4’ sheets 4 $100
Finishing Nails 2500 count Box 1 $15
Paint Rollers 3 pack 1 $14
Joint Compound Gallon 1 $7
Sub Total $407.25

 

Sculpture:
Item Size Amount Price
Wooden Chair Used 1 $20
Wood 2” x 2” x 8’ Pine 2 $18
Fabric Used 2 bed sheets $10
Chicken Wire 10’ roll 1 $12
Casting Plaster 50lb Bag 1 $18
Wood Screws 100 count box 1 $10
Wood Glue Bottle 1 $5
Staples 1250 count Box 1 $4
Sub Total $97

 

Grand Total:
Mural/Painting Scuplure Grand Total
Totals $407.25 $97 $504.25

Literary review

My piece is about fostering a positive relationship with the natural world and about the feeling of relaxation, connection to the earth and general well-being one experiences while in a natural landscape. For some this landscape could be an open space adjacent to an urban environment. Those living within a three-kilometer (almost 2 mile) radius of a high amount of greenspace [..] [are] less likely to experience the negative health impacts of stress (Selhub). Frederick Law Olmsted, a renowned landscape architect, advocated for urban green spaces that promoted the mental relaxation of users and the general health of society. He brought about such metro parks as New York City’s Central Park (Selhub). While Central Park was placed within an affluent area in 1858; in recent times, Majora Carter is working to bring green to under-privileged neighborhoods. She operates under the ideals of Environmental Justice – which are that all people, regardless of class, race, or location deserve healthy environments to live and work. With this ideal, she brought such green projects to a working class neighborhood in the Bronx. There she helped to create Riverside Park by rejuvenating an abandoned urban area (Carter). A similar phenomenon, urban farming, is taking place in numerous cities across the country. In these two instances, the beauty, serenity and benefits of nature have been taken into the urban environment and the importance of green spaces for all people is being recognized.

In the Ecopsychology movement it is believed that focusing on these positive benefits of nature will help people to be better at conservation. When we have a strong bond with our natural world, we instinctively change our behavior to save it. Focusing on this bond will allow us to create the environmental change we seek without feeling that we lack the commodities of our once frivolous consumer life-styles. The benefits found in being one with nature will replace and over shadow all we leave behind in abandoning consumerism (Roszak). The term biophilla is used in this field to describe humans’ drive to surround ourselves with healthy and preferable aspects of nature; such as, vistas and clean water. Biophilia is self-preservation and by extension the preservation of a healthy environment. Biologist Edward O. Wilson said that Biophilia is an innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms (Selhub). In the article Aggression And Violence In The Inner City the reverse is discussed, such as how prolonged exposure to chaotic urban areas produces over-stimulated and aggressive states in people. As well as how Ecotherapy may help in resolving the overstimulation urban areas produce in inhabitants (Kuo).

For those fortunate enough to have privilege and mobility to visit them, national parks offer an expansive landscape to escape the drawl of urban life. When the National Park Service Act passed in 1916, Henry S. Graves, head of the Forest Service, wrote that true national parks should be set aside exclusively for the ‘care and development of scenic features and [..] for the enjoyment, health and recreation’ of the people (Sellars). National Parks have since been a part of our country and many people, including myself, have found immeasurable emotional benefit in their scenic landscapes. Thus the imagery of my project is based on my personal bond with Yosemite National Park. However, we must also recognize the varied ways by which people of all types receive benefits from connecting to elements of nature such as urban farming, farmer’s markets, and neighborhood projects such as Majora Carter’s Riverside Park. These ideas and more have been uncovered in my research and serve to inform my final piece.

Citations

Journals from Library.csumb.edu

  • Kaplan, R. (2001). Nature in the eye of the beholder.Michigan Quarterly Review, 40(1), 207.
  • Kuo, F., & Sullivan, W. (n.d.). Aggression And Violence In The Inner City: Effects Of Environment Via Mental Fatigue. Environment and Behavior, 543-571.
  • Waldroup, H. (2014). Hard to reach: Anne brigman, mountaineering, and modernity in california.Modernism/Modernity, 21(2), 447-465.

Books

  • Clayton, S. (2003). Identity and the natural environment: The psychological significance of nature. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
  • Roszak, T. (1995). Ecopsychology: Restoring the earth, healing the mind. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books.
  • Selhub, E., & Logan, A. (2012). Your brain on nature: The science of nature’s influence on your health, happiness and vitality. Mississauga, Ont.: John Wiley & Sons Canada.
  • Sellars, R. (2009). Preserving Nature in the National Parks. Yale University Press.

Internet Sources

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