ARST 4915/6915 Thematic Inquiry: Art, Ecology, and Southern Identity: A Field Study in Coastal Georgia

This semester-long course explores the intersection of art, ecology, and Southern history, culminating in an immersive field experience at Wormsloe State Historic Site and coastal Georgia during Spring Break (March 8–13). With Wormsloe as our base, students will engage in a range of place-based investigations—from nature walks and archive visits to ecological excursions and artist dialogues. Through a combination of class meetings, fieldwork, and independent studio practice, students will develop a body of work that reflects their engagement with the region’s landscapes, histories, and environmental narratives.

The course begins on January 14 with an introduction to key concepts and a Zoom conversation with artist and Wormsloe collaborator May Socci. Over the following weeks, students will explore relevant cultural and archival resources, including a visit to the De Renne Collection at UGA’s Special Collections Library (January 28) and an in-depth session at the Georgia Museum of Art (February 11) focused on Southern landscape and regional identity. That same week, we’ll host a virtual conversation with artists Mike McFalls and Pam Longobardi, whose practices engage with environmental and site-based concerns.