Jesse Hernreich explores permaculture principles with students

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Levi Mason

Image from Jesse Hernreich's presentation

Jesse Hernreich explores permaculture principles with students

On February 1, 2012 alumna and faculty member Jesse Hernreich joined current certificate students to explore concepts of permaculture. Permaculture is a theory of ecological design which seeks to develop sustainable human settlements and agricultural systems, by attempting to model them on natural ecosystems. One of the themes explored by Jesse is the notion of designing elements to serve multiple functions in a layered, systemic manner.

Jesse Hernreich

Permaculture consciousness is a major ongoing theme at Ecosa that is constantly revisited — as humans become more in harmony with the living ecosystem, the entire web of life benefits.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged agriculture, Arizona, awareness, class, community, creative, creativity, design, design students, design studio, ecological, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, experiential, green, institute, Jesse Hernreich, landscape architecture, layer, learning, nature, permaculture, planning, prescott, regenerative, school, Student, students, sustainability, sustainable, sustainable design, system, urban planning | Leave a comment

Firing a Neolithic Pit Forge

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Levi Mason

Pit Forge Firing

Firing a Neolithic Pit Forge

On January 8, 2012, Ecosa student Dustin Wright fired a neolithic pit forge built in the back yard of the residence where he lives. A number of fellow students and Ecosa community members were present — a social occasion as the mostly buried earthen vessel was fired for hardening. The forge is modeled after an artifact found at an archeological excavation researched by Dustin.

Firing the Pit Forge was a social event shared by several members of the local Ecosa community

Using hand pumped bellows, air is forced through a small pipe to the base of the forge to provide maximum air flow and raise temperatures in the fire. Dustin Wright plans to use the pit forge to experiment with melting various metals and glass for re-use in craft creations.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arizona, art, awareness, community, craft, creative, creativity, design, design students, design studio, device, earthen, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, experiential, fire, forge, glass, institute, learning, learning by doing, melting, metal, neolithic, pit, prescott, recycling, regenerative, school, social, Student, students, vessel | Leave a comment

Barnabas Kane teaches technical drawing concepts

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Levi Mason

Barnabas Kane illustrates technical design principles

Barnabas Kane teaches technical drawing concepts

On February 8, 2012 Ecosa board and faculty member Barnabas Kane joined certificate students and worked with them, introducing technical drawing concepts. Barnabas went over the process of laying out design plans including cross sections. The Ecosa Institute curriculum includes a series of drawing techniques learning periods so that students of various backgrounds can have a shared pool of knowledge when working together on projects.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, Arizona, art, awareness, barnabas kane, community, concepts, creative, creativity, cross section, design, design students, design studio, Development, drafting, drawing, ecological, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, green, institute, layout, learning, planning, prescott, school, school of architecture, Student, students, studio, sustainability, sustainable design, technical | Leave a comment

Rich Henrich speaks on creating effective “log lines”

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Levi Mason

Rich Henrich working with Ecosa students

Rich Henrich speaks on creating effective “log lines”

During the presentation at Ecosa on February 2, 2012, Rich Henrich explored the idea of psycho-graphics and psycho-metrics and how to create words and images that reach a certain kind of person. Rich also talked about “log lines” and had participants come up with a story in 30 words or less. Story is an important part of the work of Ecosa Institute as the ability to articulate systemic change that is regenerative and sustaining diversity of life on the planet at this time is critical. As part of the recurring “communication design” theme, students are exploring ways to create and communicate compelling ideas that will inspire others.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arizona, awareness, communication, community, creativity, demograpic, design, design students, design studio, ecological, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, Event, experiential, green, institute, learning, learning by doing, line, log, log line, log lines, psychographic, psychometric, regenerative, rich henrich, school, story, Student, students, studio, sustainable design | Leave a comment

Tom Hahn works with Conor Estes on Cube Design

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Levi Mason

Faculty member Tom Hahn works with student Conor Estes

Tom Hahn works with Conor Estes on Cube Design

Leading up to the Cube Final presentation, Tom Hahn worked with Conor Estes during studio time. Conor’s cube theme had elements of circle and long beam shapes. The Cube project is a series of developmental design exercises, usually at the beginning of the term of study at Ecosa Institute. Exploring one’s own design process is an important part of the Ecosa experience as students engage with many forms, techniques, preferences, history and each other.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, Arizona, awareness, community, creative, creativity, cube, design, design students, design studio, ecological, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, experiential, feedback, green, guidance, institute, learning, learning by doing, planning, prescott, process, project, regenerative, school, school of architecture, sculpture, Student, students, studio, sustainable design, time | Leave a comment

Neolithic Pit Forge

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Levi Mason

Dustin Wright (left) with Daniel Griesel (right) working on pit forge

Neolithic Pit Forge

As part of a craft exploration, student Dustin Wright has begun construction of a Neolithic Pit Forge. The forge will be used to work on metalwork craft projects. With the assistance of other students Dustin dug a pit, formed an earthen container and will introduce fire to the device in the near future.

Craft projects are an important part of continuing Masters level work at Ecosa as students deepen their creative interests and work on localized product creation. In an age of increasing complexity and compartmentalization, the need for connection to localized, efficient, micro-enterprise activity is more important than ever. Awareness of systemic process is critical knowledge as humans more intentionally co-create the world that we live in.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arizona, awareness, community, craft, creative, creativity, design, design students, dustin wright, ecological, Ecosa, education, enterprise, experiential, fire, institute, learning, learning by doing, masters, metal, metalwork, neolithic, pit forge, prescott, process, project, school, Student, students, studio, work | Leave a comment

Continuing Master’s-Level Ecosa students engage metalwork

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Levi Mason

Working Metal at Brian Hughes' blacksmith shop

Continuing Master’s-Level Ecosa students engage metalwork.

On January 19, 2012 Continuing Masters-Level students visited the blacksmith shop of Brian Hughes. Hughes has produced authentic wrought iron work since 1975, and students were able to learn about black smithy process. This semester, interested students will continue to work with Brian and develop craft works of their own.

Learning creativity through craft projects is a core feature of the second semester of masters-level study at Ecosa. In an age of increasing complexity and specialization, a “parts” and division of labor mentality often separates people from the creative process. At Ecosa there is an emphasis on de-centralization: developing localized forms, crafts and economies that are self-determined, adaptive and efficient at a micro-enterprise scale.

Students at Brian Hughes' blacksmith shop

To check out Brian’s work, go to: http://artsmithing.com/

Pieces produced at Brian Hughes' blacksmith shop

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arizona, art, awareness, black smith, brian hughes, community, craft, creative, creativity, design, design students, design studio, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, experiential, institute, learning, learning by doing, masters, micro enterprise, prescott, school, sculpture, shop, Student, students, studio | Leave a comment

Ecosa Students work on Prescott Valley Green Festival Design

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Levi Mason

Initial Design Concept for Eco-Loco! Festival in Prescott Valley

Ecosa Students work on Prescott Valley Green Festival Design

On February 1, 2012, members of the Prescott Valley Green Festival committee met with Ecosa students who have been working on the layout and logo design for the upcoming festival to be held in Prescott Valley on September 8, 2012.

Various considerations were explored from pedestrian flow through the event to demonstration areas, child-friendly space, booth placement and information booth areas. A potential renaming change was proposed to call the event the Prescott Valley “Eco-Loco! Festival”.

Katy Szapa presents part of the design concept to committee members

Already there are plans for a “Volt Ride” feature provided by Lamb Chevrolet as well as a band stage and a potential sculpture constructed for the event out of recycled material. The first presentation was well received by the committee and a final meeting was scheduled for February 8.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arizona, awareness, community, creative, creativity, demonstration, design, design students, design studio, drawing, eco, ecological, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, Event, festival, green, green festival, institute, landscape architecture, layout, learning, learning by doing, loco, logo, planning, prescott valley, presentation, project, regenerative, school, school of architecture, Student, students, studio, sustainability, sustainable, sustainable design, urban planning | Leave a comment

Rich Henrich returns to Ecosa on Feb. 9 for “Imagining Worlds” exploration

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Levi Mason

Rich Henrich

Rich Henrich returns to Ecosa on Feb. 9 for “Imagining Worlds” exploration

Rich Henrich will return to Ecosa on February 9, 2012 to explore concepts of utopia, dystopia and archetypes through the lens of the film classic Blade Runner. Blade Runner is a film that not only exhibits distinctive design features, but also explores the juxtaposition of technology and what it means to be human. The public is invited to participate in this all-day event, which will start with a viewing of the film at 9am on February 9. The public is also welcome to participate in the afternoon session which will take on a lecture/dialog format. Participants are encouraged to view Blade Runner before the event to facilitate a deeper exploration of the material during the discussion.

Students working on Henrich exercise on February 3, 2012

The February 9 guest event with Rich Henrich follows his recent appearance on February 3, 2012 where he explored elements of story. As part of the ongoing theme of communication development at Ecosa, Rich explored ideas of branding, “Log Lines” and the importance of “why” when communicating value.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arizona, art, awareness, class, communication, community, creative, creativity, design, design students, design studio, ecological, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, film, green, guest, institute, learning, learning by doing, log line, prescott, regenerative, rich henrich, school, story, Student, students, studio, sustainability, sustainable, sustainable design | Leave a comment

Design through Dance

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Kimber Griesser

Students perform their dance piece for class

Design through Dance

ECOSA students are always faced with the design challenge of manipulating space in new and creative ways. Continuing students recently joined Prescott College’s block course “Introduction to Choreography” with Delisa Myles and actively explored the realms of dance and how it relates to architecture and design. Students used the human body and form as a design medium to choreograph dances that utilized the space around them in a unique and powerful way.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged architecture, art, awareness, body, community, creative, creativity, Delisa Myles, design, design students, design studio, ecological, Ecosa, ecosa institute, education, experiential, explore, human, improvisation, improvisational, institute, landscape architecture, learning, learning by doing, movement, prescott, school, space, Student, students, studio | Leave a comment

Jesse Hernreich explores permaculture principles with students

Barnabas Kane teaches technical drawing concepts

Rich Henrich speaks on creating effective “log lines”

Tom Hahn works with Conor Estes on Cube Design

Neolithic Pit Forge

Continuing Master’s-Level Ecosa students engage metalwork

Ecosa Students work on Prescott Valley Green Festival Design

Rich Henrich returns to Ecosa on Feb. 9 for “Imagining Worlds” exploration

Design through Dance

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