You Are In This Lands Story

In February of 2020, I was contracted to create and facilitate an experiential collaborative art process for 150 high school fine art students at the Land Heritage Institute (LHI). LHI is a 1200 acre living land museum in San Antonio, Texas. It hosts evidence of continuous human habitation for the past 10,000 years. It is home to land art installations, a living exhibit of pure CLTR Texas Longhorn cattle, and a wildlife conservationists delight of flora and fauna. The story of this place is so deep, finding ways to connect with it is a challenge.

Framing the experience as an invitation to continue the story of the past 10,000 years, the students were invited to enter into a dialogue with the land. Encouraged to collect biofacts, found natural items that captured their imagination or caught their eye. These biofacts were used in the construction of an ephemeral sculpture.

Hands worked together to craft a nest- a symbol of place- using the bio facts gethered and other biodegradable materials provided. The process sparked playfulness, collaboration, and focus. Students eagerly took turns and worked in unision adding sketches, wool roving, flowers, cactus pads, shells, and even bits of their own hair. Things that evidenced their presence. Passive observer became active participant and presence became purposed. The line between the ephemeral and the permanent blurred.