Check out some work Spring ’16 students produced for an Art / Human Ecology project! Their assignment was to take photographs that tell the visual story of some aspect of the sustainable systems on campus.
Meg Manning:
The central question posed at the Island School is “How does one live well in a place?” In order for this school to continue the goal of sustainability, we must strive to be carbon neutral… If we can achieve this goal, then this question can begin to be answered. On a more personal level, the way that I can live well in this place is by continuing to ask questions. Would becoming carbon neutral be through investing in more biodiesel or more wind and solar energy? How much would this cost? Some of these questions can’t be answered right off the bat, but that is the focus of this photo story, to challenge the systems we have place here at the Island School. If I’m not digging deeper into the reasoning behind such systems, I am doing something wrong.
Caroline Peters
To live well in this place, I must be a part of the community. I must share and look out for others and their interests as well as my own. I also should not waste resources, for the sake of the community and the environment. In these images, I was trying to capture the subtle beauty of the Aquaponics system. By taking detailed, abstract photos I was able to really see the details of the system, which allowed me to think more deeply about the sustainability of the system. It also led me to more questions…
Lizzie Feldman-DeMello
I think in order to live well in a place one would have to connect with that place physically and emotionally. Honestly I had never thought too much about it until I read the pre-semester reading by Lopez on Columbus’ discovery of the new land. By physically I mean one should be aware of what resources that place has to offer. When I say emotionally I mean one should be empathetic to the planet; not abuse what it has to offer and try to conserve its beauty and resources. One who lives well in a place knows how to use the natural resources to his or her best advantage by conserving the resources as much as he or she can, not being greedy with how much he or she takes and appreciating his or her surroundings. To live well in this place, I need to be aware of my surroundings and appreciate every single second of it without taking anything for granted.