Art Books Illustrate Environmental Concerns, Lessons

Cynthia RockwellDecember 12, 20145min
art books
From left, Sophia Ptacek '18 and Khephren Spigner '18 show their artist book to instructor Kim Diver.
From left, E&ES 197 students Sophia Ptacek ’18 and Khephren Spigner ’18 show their final project to instructor Kim Diver.

Students from Introduction to Environmental Studies (E&ES 197) presented their final projects Dec. 11 in Exley Science Center.

The Project Showcase involved 80 students informally presenting artists books, GIS story maps, children’s stories, fictional journals and other creative explorations.

“All projects are related to environmental issues in the Connecticut River,” said course instructor Kim Diver, visiting assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences. The project is associated with the Center for the Arts’ Feet to the Fire initiative.

Several Wesleyan scholars and staff volunteered their time to demonstrate artist books to the students including Kate TenEyck, art studio technician and visiting assistant professor of art; Suzy Taraba, director of Special Collections and Archives; Rebecca McCallum, cataloguing librarian; and Joseph Smolinski, the Menakka and Essel Bailey ’66 Distinguished Visiting Scholar in the College of the Environment. Erinn Roos-Brown, program manager in the Center for the Arts, helped initiate the idea for the artist book projects.

Photos of the Project Showcase are below: (Photos by Cynthia Rockwell)

Chantel Jones '17 and Tanya Mistry '17.
Chantel Jones ’17 and Tanya Mistry ’17.

Allison Gross '18.
Allison Gross ’18.
From left, Kush Sharma '18, Emily Blaker '18 and Christopher Wyckoff '18.
From left, Kush Sharma ’18, Emily Blaker ’18 and Christopher Wyckoff ’18.
Kim Diver and Isaac Gould '18.
Kim Diver and Isaac Gould ’18.
From left, Emma Siegenberg '18, Erinn  Roos-Brown and Kim Diver.
From left, Emma Siegenberg ’18, Erinn Roos-Brown and Kim Diver.
Gernald Hawkins '18
Gernald Hawkins ’18
From left, Molly Cohn '18, Jeremy Freeman '18 and Ilana Newman '18.
From left, Molly Cohn ’18, Jeremy Freeman ’18 and Ilana Newman ’18.
Bryan Stascavage '18
Bryan Stascavage ’18.
 Mira Guth '18.
Mira Guth ’18.