Appel à projets – Mapping Meaning 2014

Dates: May 26-31, 2014
Location: Canyonlands Research Center, Utah
Website: http://mappingmeaning.wordpress.com
E-mail: mappingmeaning(at)yahoo.com
 

Mapping Meaning invites women artists, scientists and scholars from all disciplines to participate in a unique experimental workshop on the Colorado Plateau.

Inspired by a photograph from 1918 depicting an all-female survey crew, this biennial gathering was created in 2010 to explore questions of mental, social and environmental ecology. The third Mapping Meaning will focus on the development of an abcBLITZ, which will provide the foundation for a collaborative book focused on interdisciplinary pedagogy.

The term “BioBlitz” was first coined in 1996 by U.S. National Park Service naturalist Susan Rudy and is used to describe an intense period of biological surveying. Generally occurring over a 24-hour period, a BioBlitz aims to record as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible within a designated area. Public participation is often key as expert scientists and naturalists lead teams in order to raise public consciousness regarding biodiversity.

The 2014 Mapping Meaning workshop will utilize the concept of a BioBlitz as a model for thinking about what it means to holistically “experience”, “assess”, “know” and “teach” place. We will expand this model to create an abcBLITZ, where abc stands for arts, biology and culture, as well as the metaphorical building blocks of “life/language”. In essence, the abcBLITZ will be a focused way to think about interdisciplinary pedagogy — recognizing not only the importance of biodiversity but also the cultural and artistic histories central to any holistic understanding of a place.

Each day will consist of a preplanned hike, group discussion and/or selected participant presentations or artwork. Workshop cost is only $100 and covers all food and accommodation for 5 days (please contact organizers if cost is prohibitive). Selected participants are expected to cover personal travel expenses to/from Canyonlands Research Center, Utah.

Applications are due by April 1 and selected applicants will be notified by April 15.