"The establishment of the National Park Service is justified by considerations of good administration, of the value of natural beauty as a National asset, and of the effectiveness of outdoor life and recreation in the production of good citizenship."
– Theodore Roosevelt
"National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst."
– Wallace Stegner
What do Concord and Minuteman National Park mean to the world?
We are a group of students, artists, and community minded folks who are working collaboratively to research and design a future artist in residence program at Minuteman National Park. The students participating in this effort are familiar with Minuteman National Park as a rich site for learning, because our curriculum uses "places as texts", and we are fortunate to have MMNPark within walking distance of our school. We decided to share our learning and creative process through this blog, because we hope to capture how this particular place naturallay inspires intellectual and artistic inquiry. Here is a general outline of our work:
I. Learning the Park’s History
Value, Content, Connection
II. What can artists bring into awareness? How can art help the Parks’ mission?
III. Making art in the Park (with artists)
IV. Rivers and Revolutions Curriculum: Interdisciplinary, Experiential, Creative, Collaborative...how does this fit in?
V. Meeting Community Stakeholders
VI. Explore and summarize “Artist as steward of place” (visual artists, writers)
VII. Present work and propose next steps
