Prairie Earth: an installation exploring the native Kansas landscape and urban developmen
Less than 200 years ago, tall grass prairie extended over 250,000 square miles in ten states
reaching north to Canada and south to Texas, as far east as Indiana and west into Nebraska.
Today, only isolated remnants of this complex environment still exists—less than 1%—much
of it in Kansas. The prairie is the most endangered environment in America.
As both prairie and farm succumb to grass lawns and asphalt, a dialogue about our relationship
to nature and the land is urgent. This project challenges the viewer to think about these issues
by contrasting the rich ecology of the prairie with representation of the repetitive environment
offered by poorly planned development.
Installation views
Less than 200 years ago, tall grass prairie extended over 250,000 square miles in ten states
reaching north to Canada and south to Texas, as far east as Indiana and west into Nebraska.
Today, only isolated remnants of this complex environment still exists—less than 1%—much
of it in Kansas. The prairie is the most endangered environment in America.
As both prairie and farm succumb to grass lawns and asphalt, a dialogue about our relationship
to nature and the land is urgent. This project challenges the viewer to think about these issues
by contrasting the rich ecology of the prairie with representation of the repetitive environment
offered by poorly planned development.
Installation views
The Living Room Gallery
This exhibition was designed to be exploratory, with
a variety of artwork, imagery, media and hands-on activities. Visitors can engage with the installation by making art, creating performances using the prairie
animal puppet theater, play the sprawl game, and
examine prairie grasses and seeds with microscopes.
There were also books about the prairie for all ages
to browse. The installation was designed as an open
space with comfortable seating areas and many opportunities for group interaction.
This exhibition was designed to be exploratory, with
a variety of artwork, imagery, media and hands-on activities. Visitors can engage with the installation by making art, creating performances using the prairie
animal puppet theater, play the sprawl game, and
examine prairie grasses and seeds with microscopes.
There were also books about the prairie for all ages
to browse. The installation was designed as an open
space with comfortable seating areas and many opportunities for group interaction.
Prairie Prints is a rubbing table installation of collagraph plates
produced by Marguerite Perret's Washburn University design students. Visitors can make rubbings from the plates to make their own imagery
that is evocative of the Kansas landscape and natural history.
produced by Marguerite Perret's Washburn University design students. Visitors can make rubbings from the plates to make their own imagery
that is evocative of the Kansas landscape and natural history.
Prairie Scopes is an area for examining prairie grasses and seeds using a microscope. Visitors can make artworks based on the shapes and textures they see through the lens. There are also animal track templates of Kansas wildlife and other materials available that can be used to make artwork about the prairie.
Installation views
Installation views