Why Does the Marsh Matter: An Adventure in Community Artmaking

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Snyder, Isabelle
Area of Honors:
Art Education
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Karen Treat Keifer-Boyd, Thesis Supervisor
Karen Treat Keifer-Boyd, Thesis Honors Advisor
Ann Holt, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Marsh
Mural
Wetlands
Community
Art
Abstract:
Nature, the beauty of the world around me, is the greatest work of art I can imagine. For as long as I can remember when I spend time outside, it has only felt right to create art of my own in an attempt to somehow capture a bit of that beauty. In my mind, art and nature have always had a symbiotic relationship, with art nurturing my love of nature and vice versa. When I set out to design my thesis, I knew I wanted to explore this relationship between art and nature. Through my undergraduate work with Shaver’s Creek, I have grown to appreciate the importance of wetlands in Central Pennsylvania and started to recognize the vital role they play in a sustainable community. My thesis seemed like the perfect opportunity to test if I could get others engaged with our local wetlands, using art as a tool for exploration and discovery. With this goal in mind, I began my work with Millbrook Marsh, the protected wetlands closest to Penn State’s main campus, to design and paint a mural. Each image in the mural, based on a living animal or plant found in the marsh ecosystem, was designed by a member of the State College community who participated in workshops I led throughout the year. Participants ranged from three to ninety-four years old and represented the significant diversity of thought and experience found in our area. Overall, I received nearly 500 drawings, with around 100 included in the final design. The mural can be seen at the entrance to the Millbrook Marsh walking path, adjacent to the main entrance. The overall impact, considering all workshop participants and future Millbrook Marsh guests who will see and enjoy the mural, is considerable, and something I am proud to have contributed to the community.