In the early days of our thesis studio at Cal Poly, we spent a day creating land art at the beautiful and remote state park, Montana De Oro. This “field trip” was inspired by Andy Goldsworthy, a land artists who creates site responsive works of art. His sculptures are constructed on and with the landscape, then left to endure the natural world and the passage of time. In small groups, we started by exploring and observing the rugged coastal environment. Eventually we honed in on specific sties and spent several hours manipulating the environment in a way that was meaningful and evocative of the environment itself. This was an enriching experience that allowed us to get out of our minds an into our bodies, reminding us how nature can be a direct source of creative inspiration: especially since architecture is really just another way of manipulating it, for better or for worse.

PROJECT STATEMENT: An opportunity not only to play in the sand, but to discover how our bodies, our hands, and our minds could push and pull upon the earth to create a gentle newness. Something with rhythm and flow, inspired by the rhythm and flow of the water. Layers of composition, shadows, sounds, textures, smells, and the gentle roar of the sea, kept time to our movements and our thoughts.