Both road trip and field study, Picturing Arizona explores the role of wet-plate photography in shaping our perception of the American Southwest during the height of westward expansion. Through close examination of ancient narratives found within Arizona's National Parks and Monuments, our attention is directed toward the histories and communities that these early photographs failed to represent. Site visits include a 150-room ancestral pueblo built around 1125 CE, Mary Colter's Desert View Watchtower at Grand Canyon National Park, and Paolo Soleri's experimental arcology (architecture/ecology) Arcosanti. This journey across Arizona spans a vast geologic time scale and examines the persistence of human invention against an unforgiving landscape and centuries of displacement. In addition to daily excursions, the course includes a tintype workshop at Taliesin West with guest artist, Will Wilson.
Note: Prerequisite readings will be assigned prior to the program.
Tuition includes: Double-occupancy accommodations; ground transportation; entrance fees to museums, architectural sites, National Parks and National Monuments; picnic lunches; workshop materials; and welcome and farewell meals.
Activity Level: moderate to vigorous (13-15 on the RPE Scale)