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"The peacock's tail," said Charles Darwin, "makes me sick." That's because the theory of evolution as adaptation can't explain why nature is so beautiful. It took the concept of sexual selection for Darwin to explain that, a process that has more to do with aesthetics than the practical. Survival of the Beautiful is a revolutionary new examination of the interplay of beauty, art, and culture in evolution. Taking inspiration from Darwin's observation that animals have a natural aesthetic sense, philosopher and musician David Rothenberg probes why animals, humans included, have innate appreciation for beauty-and why nature is, indeed, beautiful.
Sexual selection may explain why animals desire, but it says very little about what they desire. Why will a bowerbird literally murder another bird to decorate its bower with the victim's blue feathers? Why do butterfly wings boast such brilliantly varied patterns? The beauty of nature is not arbitrary, even if random mutation has played a role in evolution. What can we learn from the amazing range of animal aesthetic behavior-about animals, and about ourselves?
www.bloomsburypress.com

Asphalt to Ecosystems is a compelling color guidebook for designing and building natural schoolyard environments that enhance childhood learning and play experiences while providing connection with the natural world. This book documents exciting green schoolyard examples from almost 150 schools in 11 countries, illustrating that a great many things are possible on school grounds when they are envisioned as outdoor classrooms for hands-on learning and play. The book showcases some of the world's most innovative green schoolyards including: edible gardens with fruit trees, vegetables, chickens, honey bees, and outdoor cooking facilities; wildlife habitats with prairie grasses and ponds, or forest and desert ecosystems; schoolyard watershed models, rainwater catchment systems and waste-water treatment wetlands; renewable energy systems that power landscape features, or the whole school; creative play opportunities that diversify school ground recreational options and encourage children to run, hop, skip, jump, balance, slide, and twirl, as well as explore the natural world first hand. The book grounds these examples in a practical framework that illustrates simple landscape design choices that all schools can use to make their schoolyards more comfortable, enjoyable and beautiful, and describes a participatory design process that schools can use to engage their school communities in transforming their own asphalt into ecosystems.
www.asphalt2ecosystems.org/home

 

This book provides an introduction to the study of the senses and the arts. It contains over thirty chapters written by artists/practitioners, including, musicians, visual artists, a "sculptor for the blind", a celebrity chef, a choreographer, designers, and architects. It also includes chapters by leading neuroscientists and psychologists who study the senses, as well as chapters from scholars from the humanities, including, art history, anthropology, and cultural studies.
The book provides a unique interdisciplinary overview of the senses, ranging from the neuroscience of sensory processing in the body, to cultural influences on how the senses are used in society, to the role of the senses in the arts.
The first book of its kind, 'Art and the Senses' will be a valuable tool for anyone interested in how the senses interact with eachother to create meaningful human experience.
www.oup.com

Being Alive ranges over such themes as the vitality of materials, what it means to make things, the perception and formation of the ground, the mingling of earth and sky in the weather-world, the experiences of light, sound and feeling, the role of storytelling in the integration of knowledge, and the potential of drawing to unite observation and description.
Our humanity, Ingold argues, does not come ready-made but is continually fashioned in our movements along ways of life. Starting from the idea of life as a process of wayfaring, Ingold presents a radically new understanding of movement, knowledge and description as dimensions not just of being in the world, but of being alive to what is going on there.
www.routledge.com

This book argues that the division of the brain into two hemispheres is essential to human existence, making possible incompatible versions of the world, with quite different priorities and values. The differences lie not, as has been supposed, in the 'what' - which skills each hemisphere possesses - but in the 'how', the way in which each uses them, and to what end. But, like the brain itself, the relationship between the hemispheres is not symmetrical. The left hemisphere, though unaware of its dependence, could be thought of as an 'emissary' of the right hemisphere, valuable for taking on a role that the right hemisphere - the 'Master' - cannot itself afford to undertake. However it turns out that the emissary has his own will, and secretly believes himself to be superior to the Master. And he has the means to betray him. What he doesn't realize is that in doing so he will also betray himself.
The left hemisphere is detail-oriented, prefers mechanisms to living things, and is inclined to self-interest, where the right hemisphere has greater breadth, flexibility and generosity. This division helps explain the origins of music and language. In the second part of the book, he takes the reader on a journey through the history of Western culture, illustrating the tension between these two worlds as revealed in the thought and belief of thinkers and artists, from Aeschylus to Magritte. He argues that, despite its inferior grasp of reality, the left hemisphere is increasingly taking precedence in the modern world, with potentially disastrous consequences.
www.wiley.com

Inspired by papers developed for the 6th International Conference on Imagination and Education: Imaginative Practice, Imaginative Inquiry (Canberra, Australia, 2008), this book connects a cross-section of educators, researchers and administrators in a dialogue and exploration of imaginative and creative ways of teaching, learning and conducting educational inquiry.
Imagination is a concept that spans traditional disciplinary and professional boundaries. The authors in this book acknowledge diverse theoretical and practical allegiances, but they concur that imagination will play an essential role in the building of new foundations for education in the 21st century. From our conception of human development through our ways of educating teachers to the teaching of mathematics, they argue for the centrality of imagination in the realization of human potential, and for its relevance to the most urgent problems confronting our world.
www.c-s-p.org

The ability of children to think creatively, to be innovative, enterprising, and capable, depends greatly on providing a rich imagination-based educational environment. This discussion, about the importance of imagination and creativity in education, has been taken up by researchers and educators around the world. It is represented here by writings from authors from Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Italy, Israel, Japan, and Romania. In the first part of this book these authors explore and discuss theories of development, imagination, and creativity. In the second part they extend these theories to broader social issues such as responsible citizenship, gender, and special needs education, to new approaches to curriculum subjects such as literacy, science, and mathematics, and to the educational environment of the museum.
www.c-s-p.org

Organized around five fundamental environmental elements– land, water, sky, plants, and wildlife– this book uses inspiring fine art and plentiful hands-on art experiences to motivate students to look closely, think carefully, and find out more about the world around them. Inside you will find:
- 25 hands-on art lessons for elementary and secondary students;
- Profiles of ground-breaking environmental artists, including examples of their works, statements of their philosophies, and links to their websites and writings;
- Hundreds of eco awareness activities that help hone artistic, research, and critical thinking skills;
- A bibliography of classic and contemporary works on environmental issues and artists lives.

View sample book pages from:
Plants: Gardens
Sky: Artist Activist
www.heatherandersonart.com

In The Ethics of Earth Art, Amanda Boetzkes analyzes the development of the earth art movement, arguing that such diverse artists as Robert Smithson, Ana Mendieta, James Turrell, Jackie Brookner, Olafur Eliasson, Basia Irland, and Ichi Ikeda are connected through their elucidation of the earth as a domain of ethical concern. Boetzkes contends that in basing their works’ relationship to the natural world on receptivity rather than representation, earth artists take an ethical stance that counters both the instrumental view that seeks to master nature and the Romantic view that posits a return to a mythical state of unencumbered continuity with nature. By incorporating receptive surfaces into their work—film footage of glaring sunlight, an aperture in a chamber that opens to the sky, or a porous armature on which vegetation grows—earth artists articulate the dilemma of representation that nature presents.
Revealing the fundamental difference between the human world and the earth, Boetzkes shows that earth art mediates the sensations of nature while allowing nature itself to remain irreducible to human signification.
www.upress.umn.edu
Interview with the author

This book explores the contribution of and art and creativity to early education, and examines the role of the atelier (an arts workshop in a school) and atelierista (an educator with an arts background) in the pioneering pre-schools of Reggio Emilia. It does so through the unique experience of Vea Vecchi, one of the first atelieristas to be appointed in Reggio Emilia in 1970.
Part memoir, part conversation and part reflection, the book provides a unique insider perspective on the pedagogical work of this extraordinary local project, which continues to be a source of inspiration to early childhood practitioners and policy makers worldwide.
Vea’s writing, full of beautiful examples, draws the reader in as she explains the history of the atelier and the evolving role of the atelierista.
Series: Contesting Early Childhood
www.routledge.com
More on Reggio Emilia (opens in a new window)

 

"Conversations With Landscape" moves beyond the conventional dualisms associated with landscape, exploring notions of landscape and its relation with humans through the metaphor of conversation. Such an approach conceives of landscape as an actor in the ongoing communication that is inherent in any perception, recognising the often-ignored mutuality of encounters between human and non-human actors. With contributions drawn from a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, geography, archaeology, philosophy, literature and the visual arts, this book explores the affects and emotions engendered in the conversations between landscape and humans. Offering scope for an original and coherent approach to the study of landscape, this book will appeal to scholars and researchers across a range of social sciences and humanities.
www.ashgatepublishing.com

Here are paths, offered like an open hand, towards a new way of being in the world. At a time when the multiple alienations of modern society threaten our sense of belonging, the importance of 'place' to creative possibility in life and art cannot be underestimated. Towards Re-Enchantment: Place and its Meanings reflects in remarkable prose and poetry on specific locations from across the diverse landscapes of the British Isles, and on the potential for ‘re-enchantment', whether personal or collective, cultural, ecological or spiritual.
www.artevents.info

 

When is the last time you climbed a tree? Went pond-dipping? Picked blackberries? Held a snail race? Or tracked down a badger set? If the answer is ‘can’t remember’, or even ‘never’, The Bumper Book Of Nature will inspire you to change all that for good. This is a gloriously designed treasure trove of nature activities, ideas and information, to inspire and entertain, wherever you are, and whatever the season. Switch off the television and computer, pull on your Wellingtons and get outside to discover the endless bounty and beauty of nature right on your doorstep.
www.bumperbookofnature.co.uk
 

Artist and educator Lisa Lipsett shares a ten year creative journey recounting her experiences with the natural world, connecting creativity with deep ecology, education, spirituality and ecopsychology. Through playful exercises and paintings, she invites the reader to engage in a highly intuitive hands-on process, initiating a joyful heartfelt practice which brings art-making back to its living roots. This book will appeal to educators, therapists and parents looking for ways to strengthen human-Nature relationships through the arts.
www.creativebynature.org

 

In Childhood and Nature, educator David Sobel makes the case that meaningful connections with the natural world don't begin in the rainforest or arctic, but in our own backyards and communities. Based on his observations of recurrent play themes around the world, Sobel articulates seven design principles that can guide teachers in structuring learning experiences for children. Place-based education projects that make effective use of the principles are detailed throughout the book. And while engaged in these projects, students learn language arts, math, science, social studies, as well as essential problem-solving and social skills through involvement with nature and their communities.
www.stenhouse.com

From art using snow, ice, leaves, and berries to sticks, branches, mud, and pebbles, Natural suggests more than 200 simple, abstract creations that readers can make when they’re out and about, using nothing but natural materials. Along with the pleasure to be had in creating something beautiful in just a few minutes, the projects are a splendid way to open a child’s eyes to all the shapes, colors, and textures nature has to offer. Pouyet is directly inspired by land artists like Robert Smithson, who created a giant stone spiral jetty in the Great Salt Lake, and Nils Udo, who makes enormous, magical nests from birch trunks and willow branches. For families, teachers, crafters, and all who delight in a few moments of creativity, Natural is a rich source of inspiration to engage with the amazingly varied elements of the everyday outdoors.
www.franceslincoln.com

Art, Community and Environment investigates wide-ranging issues raised by the interaction between art practice, community participation, and the environment, both natural and urban. This volume brings together a distinguished group of contributors from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Finland to examine topics such as urban art, community participation, local empowerment and the problems of ownership. Featuring rich colour illustrations and informative case studies from around the world, Art, Community and Environment addresses the growing interest in this fascinating dimension of art and education, forming a vital addition to Intellect’s Readings in Art and Design Education series
www.intellectbooks.co.uk

 

The author states that the aim of drawing closer to nature is to employ the artistic processes to draw our selves--mind, body, and spirit--closer to nature. When so repositioned, our thoughts and behaviors--artistic and otherwise take on depth, grace, and richness of expression--just what we want for our life and our art.
www.peterlondon.us

The book explores the increasing divide between the young and the natural world, and the environmental, social, psychological, and spiritual implications. It also shows us how important that connection is for child and adult health. It shows how the absence of nature in the lives of today's wired generation can be linked to some of the most disturbing childhood trends: obesity, attention disorders, and depression.
Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults. More than just raising an alarm, Louv offers practical solutions and simple ways to heal the broken bond—and many are right in our own backyard.
www.cnaturenet.org

Although written especially for a Native American audience, the wisdom of Cajete’s approaches is applicable to the development of learning environments for all youth and the communities within which they live. Cajete's book is a fine work, that incorporates traditional Native American practices into the modern world. The book clearly sparkles with Native American philosophy/religion (ecosophy) and is  which thought provoking and clearly stated.

Kivaki Press
 

The roots of our relationship to the forest extend far back into a mythical era when our woods were still inhabited by spirits of many kinds. At that time the religious centres of communities were sacred groves, where people gathered to maintain contact with the great gods of nature. People revered the forest gods by sharing a part of their catch with the woods. In the yard of almost every house or farm was a sacrificial tree to which people's destinies were tied. Through the tree, contact was maintained with the deceased and the guardian spirits. Offerings were made to it, and it was asked for help in curing illnesses.
With the arrival of Christianity, the systematic destruction of sacred groves began. It is said that the priests' most important tool was the axe. But sacrificial trees are still standing, and there are still a few of the bear's skull pines which were an essential element of the bear myths and bear-killing rites. And there still exist quite a number of 'karsikkos', trees bearing crosses and initials and intended to ward off the restlessly wandering souls of the dead.
www.puidenkansa.net

 

"Unfold" exhibits the work of twenty-five artists who have participated in the Cape Farewell expeditions in 2007 and 2008 to the High Arctic and in 2009 to the Andes. Each artist witnessed firsthand the dramatic and fragile environmental tipping points of climate change. Their innovative, independent and collective responses explore the physical, emotional and political dimensions of our complex and changing world stressed by profligate human activity. This body of work addresses a new process of thinking where artists play an informed and significant role through creating a cultural shift, a challenge to evolve and inspire a symbiotic contract with our spiritual and physical world.
www.springer.com

Suomeksi

Kirjoituksia taiteeseen perustuvasta ympäristökasvatuksesta
Toimittanut Meri-Helga Mantere

Inom pedagogiken finns en lång tradition av att koppla samman barn och natur och det gäller speciellt förskolepedagogiken och friluftsrörelsen. Det finns ett starkt värderande av naturupplevelser, det är positivt att vistas i skogen. Skogen framställs som den goda platsen där barn både lär sig att bli sociala och tillåts vara ifred eftersom det finns plats för alla.
Det finns en idéhistorisk grund till att barndom och natur kopplas samman som emanerar från romantiken och de pedagogiska idéer som utvecklades under 1800-talet. Detta är ett internationellt fenomen, men det finns mycket som talar för att det är särskilt framträdande i Norden, inte minst har denna tradition förstärkts av författare som t ex Elsa Beskow och Astrid Lindgren.
Boken bygger på studier av idéer bakom naturens och barndomens betydelse som framträder i texter av olika slag, både vetenskapliga och litterära. Hon intresserar sig för naturbegreppet och den symboliska betydelse som naturbegreppet har idag, samt för hur man kan förstå dess framväxt. Hon intresserar sig också för hur barndom knyts till natur och vilken natur som då lyfts fram.
Halldén är professor emerita vid Tema Barn vid Linköpings universitet. Hennes ämnestillhörighet finns inom pedagogiken och pedagogisk psykologi. Hon har forskat och skrivit flera böcker och artiklar om synen på barndomen och naturen.
www.carlssonbokforlag.se

Click here to scroll through the book online

Vrij spel voor natuur en kinderen
Marianne van Lier en Willy Leufgen. Jan van Arkel, Utrecht, 2007

De auteurs maken u deelgenoot van hun langdurige zoektocht naar inspirerende projecten in binnen- en buitenland. Daarnaast willen zij u door middel van dit rijk geillustreerde boek kennis laten maken met de talrijke mogelijkheden om alle denkbare educatieve buitenruimte op een heel andere manier in te richten en te gebruiken dan we tot nu toe om ons heen waarnemen.
www.antenna.nl/i-books

Richard Louv (Vertaling: Ceciel Verheij en Jan van Boeckel)
Uitgeverij Jan van Arkel, Utrecht, 2008 (2e druk)

Nooit eerder brachten zoveel kinderen zoveel van hun tijd binnenshuis door, vaak zittend achter een tv- of computerscherm. Richard Louv brengt het gebrek aan contact met de natuur van de online-generatie in verband met verontrustende trends als de groei van overgewicht, concentratiestoornissen en depressies bij kinderen.
Louv is de eerste die recent onderzoek in kaart heeft gebracht waaruit blijkt dat direct contact met de natuur van wezenlijk belang is voor de lichamelijke en geestelijke gezondheid van kinderen. Louv slaat niet alleen alarm, hij vertelt ook hoe we kunnen proberen de verbroken relatie te herstellen.
www.antenna.nl/i-books