COURSE DESCRIPTION In this course, students are immersed in site-specific field research over the span of a four-day (24 hours/overnight) out-in-the-field trip utilizing the public land of California via the UC Natural Reserve System. Students are prompted to engage and relate to a specific place while exploring concepts of site-specificity and develop their own new inquiries about a place by experiencing it physically and by learning about contemporary art concepts through topics of land. Students will explore and reflect upon the multiple factors that constitute a “site” and how they present possibilities for creative engagement. They will learn research method skills and approaches unique to each site historically, politically, culturally, and environmentally, thus creating a place for arts research projects that freely diverge and challenge overarching concepts such as “nature” and “landscape” and address urgent arts discourse around California land, access, and equity in the 21st Century. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Develop an understanding of the value of relating to/with/alongside/against a specific site. Develop a foundation of knowledge regarding field research methodologies and gathering information. Build arts literacy about substantive personal research. To critically think about and discuss environmental, cultural, historical, social, and political issues in California. Formulate relevant questions in response to their sites to provide research project foundations to be developed as students continue their study and art-making practice. To foster arts of noticing, competence, and confidence in the field.

Approved