Current | Visual Studies | Works

Sanctuary

Gisela Baurmann with James Kerestes (VS)
Studio at University of Pennsylvania

20070915

Kara emailed me a question in regards to the idea of ecology:
"are you considering ecology as a local definition, as far as agents within the system of each retreat?
or are you considering it as a larger term to describe the environment as a whole?
or is it both, simultaneously?"

I'd like you to try to explore the term in as broad (and as local) a way as possible.
The idea of creating a retreat is per se one to create a semi-enclosed ecology within a broader system. This ecology is at the same time smaller and possibly larger than its surrounding systems/ecologies (think of the world-spanning organizations of monasteries or ashrams relative to one country that one ashram/monastery is situated in). But not only the retreat itself within its country/city is interesting to explore in terms of exchanges, feedbacks and boundaries. It is also within the retreat itself that there exist different ecologies (those of a spiritual understanding, of a physical community, of practical life cycles and tradings, and so on)

I want to challenge your creativity to explore, imagine and dramatize (in order to represent) all possible ecologies, their boundaries, their sizes, overlaps and feedback loops... - all those you can possibly think of, and include them in your studies, when you develop your own retreat program and its relevant diagrams.

Throw them all out, in writing (word lists!), in squiggles, in sketches and possibly in models. Be creative about what they could be and what could happen between them.

It is part of the invention of your own project.

.: gisela 5:53 PM