Observing Light and Catching Reflections: Experiential Environmentally Centered Art Historical Practice Inside and Outside the Classroom

Abstract

This case study provides a synopsis of the redesign of an undergraduate art history course, Art and the Environment. Overall, course content focused on the concept of landscape, its representation in art from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century, the experiential nature of Land Art in the twentieth century, and the emerging practices of ecologically oriented art. Specifically, this essay summarizes a series of interconnected high-impact learning projects partnered with traditional lectures, including: a documentary film screening, nature observation, use of a Claude glass, photographic documentation, writing, and exhibition design. The redesigned course fostered greater awareness of the natural world and expanded the boundaries of what it means to study art history while offering students richer, more meaningful educational experiences.