Land-based learning
Land art takes creating out of formal gallery spaces into public, outdoor spaces, making it approachable and accessible. The process of making with natural and found materials helps us re-learn the land, learn about ourselves and the complexity of ecosystems.
4elements Living Arts programs are land- and process-based, experiential and interdisciplinary. Essentially, most of 4e’s work over the last 15 years has been a series of different kinds of land-based engagements that invite people to learn about the land, creatively. This experiential ecological learning is coupled with lively engagement brought about by asking a lot of questions, encouraging inquiry and interdisciplinary research.
We believe that learning happens in all kinds of ways, and we want to encourage that diversity of approaches.
Many environmental challenges stem from how we relate to, and understand the world and our relationship to it: we need to change these stories, so we need to engage our imaginations, our emotions, and change (dominant) culture.
Sharing our knowledge of land-based learning
4elements living arts has published three inspiring books to further your understanding of land-based learning.
Learning the Land: Creative Community Engagements
A beautiful, inspiring book about land based engagements for community arts animators, artists, environmental art educators, and community members.
The Art of Land-Based Early Learning. V1
Natural art materials and the emergence of ecological relationships through hands-on creative engagement with children in classrooms and outdoor environments. Clay, fibres, natural dyeing, charcoal and earth pigments are all featured.
The Art of Land-Based Early Learning. V2
Inspiring examples and ideas for using artmaking with children in land-based contexts, to build community connections and observational skills.
Gallery
What questions do you have about about land-based learning?
A key thing we’ve learned over the years is that asking questions is more powerful than answering questions for people, and that good questions help to shift/unsettle/challenge the way we tend to understand the world. All of our projects are curated or designed to engage participants in inquiry, research, and questioning - from simple questions to more complex ones, each iteration, each project builds on the conversation.
Share your questions with us.
info@4elementslivingarts.org
91 Main Street Kagawong, Ontario
705-282-0444
