Day TWENTY South | The Road Home

Good Day Faithful Readers!

I'm writing, as I often do, from the road - specifically, mile 150 on Interstate 35. Isn't technology amazing? As we traverse the final 1200 of our 7000+ miles home, we reminisce over the highlights of the trip and anticipate the comforts (and stresses) of home. The boomerang float trip on the Rio Grande was a highlight for many of the students, despite the low water levels and walking it required. The awe inspiring Grande Teton Mountains took a close second place. Several students were most pleased with the relationships they built with one another - just another benefit of the Savanna Studio adventure!

The miles are flying by as the students express concerns about the coming weeks and excitement for Thanksgiving Break. We have much to accomplish before our annual open house on December 6 and final review the following morning. Good time management will be most important.

I am confident that every one of our 36 students is returning with a cornucopia of memories and experiences to share with you and I encourage them to show off all of the work they have completed on the road.

Stay tuned for more information regarding our Open House!


Julie

Day NINETEEN South | 11.11.11

Well folks, Savanna Studio 2011 is heading home! We have two full days of driving ahead of us and we’re all getting anxious to get back to Ames.  We had a six o’clock wake up call so we could get on the road at a decent time.  As we venture back north the still green trees, palm trees and cacti slowly change back into the gorgeous fall colored trees and eventually the dormant ones. Some of us are excited to get back to leafless trees and cold weather (and maybe even snow!) while others are excited to show off the bronze tone we acquired over our three week escape to warm weather.

Day EIGHTEEN South | Goodbye San Antonio, Padre Island here we come!

This morning we all loaded into the vans and hit the road for Padre Island. Although we only had a three hour van ride (roughly) it still felt like forever. By about 2:00 p.m. Padre Island welcomed 36 students and four faculty members. Driving on to the sandy beach was something many of us have never experienced before some had never even seen the ocean/Gulf of Mexico. As we started driving on the beach all that we could notice was the dead fish. They were everywhere. Gary later mentioned to us that the trash Mexico produces gets dumped in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, and throughout time floats to the shores of Padre Island. It is a disgusting subject when you think about how much trash America produces daily let alone Mexico. Many of the reactions on our faces was that of complete shock.

         

We were given 35 minutes to unload the vans and set up tents before beginning our beach project. Many students had already put their feet into the water though the red tide was present and some students even started to itch. So, a couple students and Julie took a van and went to the showers to rinse off. On the way back, Rian ran over a dead fish, there were dead fish everywhere! We did not really think anything about it until we keep hearing the noise it was making as the wheels turned. Rian got out and removed the fish which was embedded in the tire. The dorsal fin had punctured the tire, as Rian pulled it out, we all heard the hiss and we were presented with a soon to be flattened tire. We had made it this far, but yet we drive on a sandy beach with dead fish and end up with a flat tire. Who would have guessed? So, we drove back to the paved road and Rian began to change the tire. 

            

Fish Flat

While Rian was changing tires, Julie gave us the charge for an assignment: Sandcastles! I mean there really would not have been anything else we could do on a beach that did not involve sand. She gave us the guidelines, had us partner up and gave us two hours to work. I would have to say that this was one of the best assignments I have ever been given. 

Make sandcastles for a project? I think yes! Now these were not normal sandcastles there was a catch, we could only use the materials that were around us but were not allowed to touch living vegetation. After about two hours when the sun was heading down, other students would walk on the beach and look at other projects. It was pretty neat. Once the sun set, there wasn’t much we could do after that. But, all 36 students decided to take a silouhette photo of us on a little hill with the sunset in the background and it was just what we needed to end the night.

Goodnight Padre Island!

Amanda and Sydney

Day SEVENTEEN South | Ready, Set, Plants!

Today we had our last plants test of the semester. We piled into the vans and headed for the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. Like any other identification exam, we divided into two groups: one with Gary, the other with harlen. Everyone had spent the past few days reviewing the drawings in our sketchbooks, so it went really well. The gardens were incredible. We saw a beautiful pomegranate tree, something most of us had not seen before. The gardens were full of diversity. They referenced some of the Mission ruins and aqueduct that we drew elsewhere in San Antonio, such as the acequia (limestone water channel) that started at a hilltop gazebo and spiraled down the hill. There was a production garden and many different native Texas plant demonstrations.They even had a Japanese garden, where you had to stay on the stepping stones while journeying through and could not touch the grass. In Japanese Garden design, there is a common phrase/theory: Ashimoto ni ki o tsukenasai meaning Watch Your Step. This experience is intended to make you more aware of yourself and your place in the world. The fencing surrounding this garden was made of bamboo. Needless to say, the Botanical Gardens were an incredible place for a classroom.

  

Afterwards, we headed to the Sunken Gardens (also known as the Chinese Gardens and the Japanese Tea Gardens) which were located at the ruins of a limestone quarry. Being as limestone was very prevalent in this area, the gardens were constructed using limestone for paving, benches, stairs, columns, bridges, and as the foundation and walls for the many terraces of plant beds. Our assignment was to sketch  a few details from this site and to consider how successful this site was in terms of adaptive reuse. We agreed that these gardens did not have the clean edges and calm feeling that the Japanese Gardens at the botanical gardens did. 

However, the designers did use the site well: The massive void left by the removal of limestone created a mountain backdrop and a pool which symbolize the yin and the yang - a theme we read about in Michael Martin’s reading. It was an intriguing way to reuse the land and we will surely be thinking about it over the next few weeks in studio while re-designing a place of our own: the Swift packing plant ruins.

Erin and Meredith

Day SIXTEEN South | No Snow In San Antone.... but it did rain

Today we started of the morning bright and early with a wake up call at 6:45, which allowed us to have enough time to get a good hardy breakfast before we took on San Antonio Savanna style. Once everyone had had enough biscuits, gravy, and scrambled eggs and enough coffee to wake them up, we got into the vans and stormed the old Spanish Missions. Our first visit was an acequia, the only remaining, or aqueduct in the United States. There we were given the quick task of doing a 10-minute sketch of the aqueduct. We proceeded to the Espada Mission. The task was the same but we were given an extra 5 minutes to complete the sketch.            

Upon completion the weather had taken a turn and it began to rain. Gar-Bear was kind enough to allow us to break for an early lunch. Following our glorious lunch the skies opened up and the sun peaked out from behind the clouds and we were off to our next assignment; the San José Mission. Time was not as limited as it had been before and we were given our final charge to complete a two-page spread of the joint.

            

           

After we finished our drawings, we loaded back into the vans and headed for the famous San Antonio River Walk. Once we were there, we walked as a class to the outdoor amphitheater where our fearless professors, Michael and Julie, tried to explain what a flat plan view was and how to draw one for our next assignment. After many questions had been answered and all confusion was put aside, we headed out in groups of six to take on this new and challenging concept. We are all in hopes that such a new thing will turn out to be a wonderful work of creative genius instead of a terrible failure but only time will tell.

--Sarah Jensen and Garrett Swanson

Day FIFTEEN South | Turbines Turn Towards San Antonio

In the morning, everybody was rushed to pack their stuff up and get ready for San Antonio. Before we left, we had group photos with the Big Bend mountains as a background. We were so excited that we could take a nap until we would arrive in to San Antonio, however, Julie's assignment was waiting for us. Since it was a pretty long driving, 8 hours, so we had a plenty time for the assignment and our little nap. For Julie's assignment, we had to look over the window, and find five functional dimensions of technology according to Robert Thayer. Even though we had been traveling for six weeks, we had never really consider the landscape in our daily life. We usually thought that we can study landscape architecture  through the reading material, however,  we feel this is a much better way to grasp the ideas. 

The Ladies

On the way to San Antonio, we stopped by the wind farm at noon. Luckily we could see the wind farm turbin closer.  The wind farm was beautiful with the sharp white blades all over the landscape. They have become one of the main alternative resources to produce electricity in Texas. We got a lecture from the person who managed the facility and after that we drove closer to see the details of the turbine. After the short tour of the wind farm, we continued our journey to go to San Antonio. Mostly during driving time, a lot of people fell asleep. But because the driving day too long, we became really bored, and we decided to watch a movie along the road. It was a pretty good way to spend time in the van.

Finally we arrived in San Antonio around 8 pm. It was pretty late but we were so excited because we were staying in hotel and could take a shower! Since we could not take a shower for three days in Big Bend . After we loaded off, we ran into hotel to take a shower, and went out to eat. There were fancy restaurants along the river walk, and we enjoyed our rest of the day. Some people went out to the riverside mall across our hotel. It is a beautiful mall with the river running inside its courtyard. 

Seohee and Jessica

Day FOURTEEN South | Freeo Grande

The free day was finally here and the excitement was obvious. It was time to canoe on the Rio Grande. The general question around camp was whether or not we would have enough water to canoe and depending on who you ask they might give you varying answers. Either way we headed and made out towards the border with our best canoeing (swimming) gear. 

Upon arriving, we realized that our definition of canoeing, being just canoe and water, now included one more thing: rock, and lots of it. The river had lots of the river-bed showing. This, despite being frustrating, managed to be calming. An interesting point to be made is that throughout the entire time we were canoeing, we were right in between Mexico and the United States.  






After 2 ½ hours of hard work and awe-inspiring moment, we arrived at our mid-way point of the boomerang trip. This stop consisted of lunch, sun-bathing, cold-water swimming, and a few people attempting to venture through the “birthing canal," a tight spot in a nearby canyon. And yes, now would be an appropriate time to laugh. Next, we regrouped and turned the canoes downstream. 






After beating the sunset by the slimmest of margins, we took a deep breath and attempted to process what we just saw. Although many of our possessions were damaged, we feel safe in saying that every last one of us looks fondly upon that day. 

Tom and Jiali

DAY THIRTEEN South | "Bend It Like Hightshoe"

We began our day with Michael and Julie telling us that we are going to do a series of twelve sketches as we drive through Big Bend National Park. We then drove to the visitor’s center where Michael and Julie further explained our assignment. As we divided two pages of our sketchbooks into twelve boxes, an unexpected visitor stopped by. Mary Baumgartner, a former Landscape Architecture student who graduated in 2009 walked up and greeted our group. After chatting with Mary for a while we hopped into our vans and began our project. We drove to twelve different locations and did ten minute sketches at each area. After finishing this project we returned to the campsite for lunch. 

"Views from the Road"

After everybody had eaten we headed up to a shelter near our camp for a plants quiz from Gary. After all of us aced the quiz, we split up into two groups for the afternoon activities. One group went with Gary and harlan and went on a nature walk to identify plants in the park. The other group went with Michael on a hike and learned about the difference between necessary paths and designed paths. Once each group had heard from their lecturer, we returned to the campsite and the groups switched professors. 

Plant Walk Drawings

After the second lectures we all returned to the campsite to relax. Once dinner rolled around we were presented with yet another surprise. Our neighboring campers came to our campsite and gave the group a bunch of food! After thanking these campers for their generous donations, we scarfed down the food we relaxed for the rest of the night, knowing that our next day is going to be a free day of canoeing in the Rio Grande.

- Eric & Xuerong

Day TWELVE South | Fox, Skunks and Flies... Oh MY!

        Today we woke up in Marfa.  Thankful for the much needed shower, we headed downstairs only to find to our dismay that our awesome hotel did not serve breakfast.  Our troubles were soon remedied by the food of the local restaurants.  In particular, Marfa Squeeze was a Swiss café that served many organic and fresh breakfast entries that were more than satisfying.

Judd's Concrete Works at the Chinati Foundation

After our hardy breakfast we got our first task of the day; we were assigned to do a composition of Marfa features and art.  We had a lay down in front of the courthouse where we discussed drawing composition and use of color.  We soon headed on our way to the sculpture garden designed by Donald Judd.  We explored this fascinating linear array of concrete boxes.  We were asked to do water colors that in most cases were the best the class had done thus far. 

Emily, watercoloring the Concrete Installation

Watercolor Critique

Soon after we headed on our way to the long awaited Big Bend National Park.  The students arrived with high hopes and expectations only to find our campsite located on impenetrable ground and crawling with skunks, foxes and flies.  With our Savanna good cheer however we bravely faced these challenges with ferocity.  This wasn’t to say that a certain student’s bags weren’t ransacked by skunks (cough… Thomas). 

All in all this was another exciting day on the infamous Savanna Studio 2011 Escapade. 


Devon and Lucas 

Day ELEVEN South | Freezing in Freddieburg

Teeth chattering, we started off the morning by listening to one of Gary’s hilarious jokes about three ducks on a pond, papa duck, mama duck and baby duck who were discussing their instincts to fly south.  After a good laugh, we piled into the vans and headed off to the German town, Fredericksburg.  

It’s a beautiful town, with a historical district as its main street.  Various buildings along the main street were had a romantic architecture style, built of limestone for the basic structure and wood for the detailed front.  Our charge for the morning was to draw one of these buildings as well as draw a section view across the street.  The assignment was more challenging than it should have been, since our minds focused on the chilly morning air and the wind nipping at our skin as well as longing to be inside of the building we were drawing where it was nice and warm.

Fredericksburg, TX

Our charge completed, bellies full with warm food, and after mumbling about how this cold weather was NOT how Texas should be, we headed back to the vans to celebrate Zach's (belated) birthday.  We were treated to the local ice cream store, but since it was during the ‘school day’ we also did a laydown of our water colors from enchanted rock. 

Watercolors from Enchanted Rock - We are improving!

Back into the vans we went, for a about a six hour drive which equals of course… NAP TIME!  All of the people in our van besides the driver and the co-pilot were out like a light for the majority of the trip.  Few of us woke up to hear Gary talk about the silver seed heads that appeared in the ditch every so often, called ‘Silver plumes;’  Common name – plastic bag.  Soon after that we roll into Marfa for a night in a national historic landmark which has actual keys instead of cardkeys.

Qi and Kyra

Day TEN South | Enchanted Plant Walk

We students awoke to a beautiful sunrise today, today started off as a great day not only did we finally have some wonderfully warm Texas weather, but also due to the lack of daylight we got to sleep in an extra half hour. It wasn’t long before these good moods were interrupted with two quizzes and a short lecture, but how many students can say they have had a lecture while sitting on Enchanted Rock?

Pre-Quiz Jitters

      

Soon we were off on one of Gary’s famous plant walks. Many students found this drought stricken area less than appealing. Soon after Gary’s hike we set forth to conquer Enchanted Rock, but not before another watercolor postcard was finished. Again we attracted the attention of many passersby’s. Frequent questions of where we were from and why we were there triggered automatic and well-rehearsed responses from the students. 

Fun Photo Op

After sitting on the steps of the entrance to Enchanted Rock, we were given a short break before our hike up to the peak. During our much needed break students spent there time resting, doing a few free sketches and even gazing at Fairy shrimp in the rock pools. Finally it was time to make our trek up the pink granite hill. So with the sun on our backs we climbed to the top.

From the Summit of Enchanted Rock

Upon reaching the peak we were given the task of water coloring the beautiful sunset and the land around us. As we did our wonderful studies, we students suddenly noticed an ominous storm cloud quickly approaching. Before we knew it the cloud was over top of us and as we ran down the rock face the winds began to pick up. In fear of a rainstorm we hastened our pace. By the time we reached the bottom of the hill the cloud had already passed over us and we were fortunate enough to avoid the rain. So after a magnificent watercolor and a quick moment of panic we settled to a dinner over camp stoves and a night full of note taking.

The Cloud that Swallowed the Sunset

Dylan and Rian

Day NINE South | Hills, Drills and Granite Thrills

An Enchanted Birthday for Zach!

We woke up early in the morning to start packing. Today is the day when we leave the big city of Dallas and begin our journey to west Texas. After all our gear was packed away, we said our farewells to Mindy and her spectacular mother. When we finally got everyone situated in the vans, we hit the road and headed towards our destination, Enchanted Rock. The van ride was a long one, which is exactly the type we like because it allows people to catch up on much needed sleep.  The road took us through a lot of Texas’ countryside, which has a lot of hills and oil drills. 

When we finally made it to the Enchanted Rock in the late afternoon, we set up camp at the base of Little Rock (Right next to Enchanted Rock). Most people set up camp as fast as they could because the rocks looked so enticing and they wanted to climb to the top. The enchanted Rock consists of pink granite and is covered with a lot of different types of vegetation, but most of it is prickly pear cactus. This made the climbing slow going and hazardous because granite doesn’t offer very good traction and nobody wants to pull cactus needles out of themselves.  As it got darker, people slowly dwindled back into camp and began to settle down. After a little while, wildlife began to show up, we saw skunks, deer, and fox. Then we went to sleep to a full sparkling sky of stars and a bright moon. 

Gage and Da