Hi everybody! This guide was made for students in Professor Tessier's ARTS 310 course, The Art of Healing Landscapes. Here you will find resources that will guide you as you are researching to complete the assignments for the course.
Section 2b: Draft Research and References Slides:
In-depth research will be presented with a minimum of 5 PowerPoint slides, in-bullet citations, at least two images (these may vary by theme-ex. images of: the historical context, the designer/artist, proposed location, or other artworks by the artist/designer, etc.), and a minimum of five cited references with one of these being a primary source about the artist/designer/firm and two being primary sources about the theme (see below).
What to include in the research:
At least two images (images vary by theme; examples include but are not limited to: images of historical contexts, photographs of the artist, images of the proposed location, graphs of historical data regarding the health issue, other artworks by the artist).
Biography/background research: Please provide biographical information about the artist/designer/firm such as where and when they were born/died/started the firm. Explain the development and interests of the artist/designer/firm such as schooling/training, goals of this firm, number of employees, etc. What types of projects/artworks does the artist/designer/firm typically complete and how do they compare/contrast with your selected work? If possible, explore how the prevailing religion(s), culture(s), politics, historical events, state of healthcare, and/or economics may have impacted the artist/designer/firm of this work. What did the artist/designer/firm say about their own work, or what have critics said?
Style and Content Research: What style(s) is this landscape/memorial? How do other notable landscapes explored in lecture that were created in this same period or region compare/contrast with your selected work? Is this the only style used by this artist/designer? Have there been any significant changes to the landscape/memorial/artwork over time (i.e. has it been modified or restored)? For whom was the work made? What does the plan/composition look like and what are the main “rooms”/features (hardscape, water, plants) of this landscape? What symbols are used where and what do they mean?
Required contemporary research specific to your selected theme from below: (3-4 slides, three-source minimum- *with 2 of these being primary sources)
Therapeutic Landscapes theme 1: Choose one specific, contemporary (within the last thirty years) therapeutic landscape that is/was being used to provide a significant, positive health benefit to a specific target population (ex. cancer patients or pediatrics, etc.). Note, therapeutic gardens are more specialized than healing gardens designed for all (see lecture 1), so be sure that you choose a therapeutic landscape. Research how landscape design can benefit the specialized needs of the patient group that this garden serves. Referring to the contemporary literature on therapeutic landscapes, how is this landscape designed to provide health benefits? Does this garden and its benefits still resonate today?--Why or why not? (ex. a specific prison garden, a garden for veterans with PTSD, a hospice garden, a pediatric garden, Lisa K. Humke Canine Therapy Garden at Sidney and Louis Eskenazi Hospital).
Memorials theme 2: Select one memorial landscape that contains some greenspace in its design (almost every town has a memorial, so you can consider choosing one that you can visit in person if you wish and if you can identify the firm/designer that made it). Make sure that you focus on the landscape design in addition to any structures/statues. Research the memorial’s construction, intended meaning (explain the history of who/what it memorializes), and study how people continue to use and relate to the memorial today. Using contemporary literature, explain the healing benefits of memorials for individuals and communities. How is this memorial designed with healing benefits in mind? What features or symbols are used to indicate who/what is memorialized? How might the interpretation of this landscape change over time? (ex. Veterans’ memorials, 9/11 memorials, living memorials for those with HIV/AIDS, memorials to famous animals, etc.).
More Landscape Art theme 3: Imagine that you are on a committee to advocate for the installation of a new work of landscape art in your place of employment. Begin by selecting a specific, 2D (media like painting, drawing, photography) landscape artwork to advocate hanging where you work. Using the literature on the health benefits of viewing landscape art, make a case for why this specific artwork is well-suited for your place of employment. Describe exactly where and how the artwork would be placed and include a photograph of the proposed location (or image of a similar setting if you are not able to take photographs at work). Why would this particular artwork be healing for you and to others in the proposed building such as for patients and staff, students, factory workers, dinner guests, hotel workers and guests, or vet staff and pet owners etc.?
