Main workshop themes
Observation of the Plant world within the Landscape. Here we will explore the more ecological aspects of landscape. The main question will be; What do plants tell us - about themselves, about their environment and about us?
Sense Perceptional Qualities & Interpretation (Environmental Aesthetics). Here we explore at how we see things and make judgements. The main question will be; How do we experience landscape and why can we experience it as beautiful?
Nature and Culture within the Landscape. Here we will explore cultural influences within the landscape. The main question will be; Are our surroundings natural with our cultural products placed within and how far is the landscape a product of nature and/or culture? And what are we?
Evolution of Consciousness. Here we will explore our changing perceptions of landscape within history and our own biography. The main questions will be; Is what we observe dependent on our consciousness? How far and why do we all notice different elements in the landscape?
Workshops 2010
All workshops will contain all 4 main themes. But each workshop will dominated by one of the them. There is also one separate course for Painting within the landscape.
Spring Workshop (1 - 8 May) will focus on Observation of the Plantworld within the landscape. Joining us on this workshop will be Jan Diek van Mansvelt, a botanic and landscape phenomenologist. More details
1st Summer Workshop (10 - 17 July) will focus on Sense-Perceptional Qualities & Interpretation (Environmental Aesthetics) within the landscape. More details
2nd Summer Holiday Workshop (7 - 14 August) will focus on exploring the relation between Nature and Culture, specifically in relation to the Middle Ages and the Present within the landscape. More details
Landscape Painting Workshop (28 Aug - 4 Sept) Here you will have the opportunity to acquire or enhance your skills in landscape painting with the support of Ben Stolk, a professional art teacher. No experience required. More details
Autumn Workshop (23 - 30 Oct) will focus on the Evolution of Consciousness and our changing Perceptions of the landscape. Joining us on this workshop will be Simon Blaxland de Lange, who will guide us through a small work by Owen Barfield. More details
If your interested to explore further, please send us a message through the contact form on the right?
Our surroundings
As the South of France played a major role in the high culture of the Middle Ages, we have the possibility here to explore the relation between Culture and Nature in the past and the present and so we will concentrate on the landscapes where the Cathars lived and the Troubadour culture flourished, especially in the 2nd Summer and Autumn workshops.
Workshop general structure
All workshops are one week long and run from Saturday midday to Saturday midday. The workshops will be structured so that days of long walks will be alternated with days of study and short walks. The days theme will be introduced each morning in the form of a 'study', an exercise or experiment, which will direct us for the program of the day. After lunch you will have the opportunity to observe and draw and/or write about whatever drew your attention during the walk. Each late afternoon we will have a session wherein we share our experiences of the day. This is a preliminary program and we will adapt it to the nature of the participants. The participants have to be reasonably fit, but all walks are easy to moderate.
Workshop costs
Costs are €350pp/week for the course, transport* and meals. Extra costs will be either camping €40pp/week (equipment provided) or holiday accommodation from €100 (self-catering) to €200pp/week (auberge/hotel) depending on how many participants take part and their needs.
Reductions for students might be available
For the workshop with Jan Diek van Mansvelt, Ben Stolk and Simon Blaxland-de Lange there will be an extra cost of €150
*Transport to and from Pamiers railway station is included. For transport from and to Toulouse or Carcassonne airport there could be an extra charge. Co-ordination of transport is preferable.
Above prices are based on 7 participants. When there are more then 7 participants there will either be a reduction or if we are self-catering, we can supply somebody to prepare the meals for us.
Flights and personal expenditure are not included.
Cooking: If self-catering, we expect that one person from the group is helping us with cooking the evening meal on a rota basis. At the end of the week we can spoil ourselves by going out for a meal.
Please ask if you have any questions or need any of the above clarifying, using the contact form.
For further Information
Adriaan Luijk
Le Fort
09300 Lieurac
France
Tel; 0033 (0)5 61 05 27 60
Email; adriaan(at)regarding-landscapes(dot)com