Research

Pictures in the Park is a community engagement research project that propels the idea of creating an alliance between the arts and humanities and rural farm communities. The aim of this project was to research and identify the proper tools desired to reach the attention of smaller rural communities with limited methods of communication. The research methodologies included many different components between redefining communication to fit the needs of my community without vulnerability and to respectfully find common and shared values of the communities while introducing new artistic concepts.

The project was based in Josephine Sculpture Park where community members had the chance to take creative pictures of themselves or with family members and friends in a relaxed and creative manner. The initiative behind this event was to create a personal space for people to find their own use of creativity while in a creative space, furthering their own ideology of what the arts and humanities may look like introspectively. The participants were supplied with maps of the park, coloring pages, and a thank you sticker for their involvement.

At the end of the event, participants were asked to engage in their favorite memory of their stroll in the park and to write their memories on the memory board supplied near the entrance of the event. Many chose to reflect more on the sculptures, but many also noted that the sculptures helped inspire how pictures would be taken, more so instigating a new and adaptive way of thinking to produce a creative picture in the park.

This event inspired many new ventures into my research behind rural communities and I look forward to showcasing new events to further inspire the public. This would help to redefine how the public perceives what the arts and humanities may look like in our communities and how we can shift that perspective to create a more healthy outlook of how arts and humanities positively affect rural farming communities.