The Creative Cultural Practice of Sharing Ecotopian Visions through a Collaborative Art Project

Abstract

Today’s environmental challenges have prompted educators to explore ways to promote environmental sustainability. Contemporary artists working in ecological realms have presented distinct ways of understanding ecological concerns and proposed creative solutions to environmental challenges through ingenious means that reach people beyond scientific realms. Despite recognition of those creative cultural practices as invaluable educational resources, such efforts have not been a significant part of art curricula. This article aims to expand art’s potential role via reports on a recent curriculum development study of an on-campus collaborative art project in which practising artists known for their bioregional orientations were invited to inspire engineering students. This intracase analysis of developing group projects is followed by a cross-case analysis, which focuses on the distinguishing features that emerged from students’ responses to group activities. The findings are discussed to provide implications for the creative cultural practice of sharing ecotopian visions through art in the context of interdisciplinary learning.