The Land Protector Project
In collaboration with the Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance
A multidisciplinary team of University of Rochester students studying across the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences, will make art in and about the Genesee Valley Park Barrier that was once slated to become a parking lot. Using music, performance, and visual art, they will highlight the environmental, spiritual, and cultural value of green spaces... forming a portfolio of arts-based evidence to be used to foster appreciation for the protected land and to preemptively shield it from future threats of development.
Artist Educator:
Heather Layton
Land Protectors:
Vera Blackford - Rachel Kamata - Zoek(Zikuan) Zhao - Sparsh Kumar - Yifei Liu - George Machlke - Hanna Felber
Zitao ‘Dylan’ Liu - Dustin Paden - Julianna Wagner - Seana Marie ‘Alohilani Lanias
Parkside Memories
2023
Recycled Fabric Quilt
62 x 47''
Parkside Memories celebrates the memories I have of the Genesee Valley Park. For many, the pandemic highlighted the importance of public parks and green spaces to relax, destress, be healthy, and have fun. I was no exception. The quilt includes kayaking on the river my first year and the iconic trees that frame the park's entrance walkway—the fabric's colors span the seasons. An essential aspect of this quilt is that all fabrics are recycled. I obtained them from SewGreen@Rochester, a local sewing shop that rescues fabric that would otherwise go to waste. Due to the nature of these fabrics, I made many non-standard seams and cuts rather than the traditional boxes and triangles.
Project Concept:
Heather Layton is a contemporary artist and associate professor of art at the University of Rochester. When invited to create art about the Genesee Valley Park as part of the Preservation League’s Seven to Save Endangered Sites Program, she immediately thought that students, as future stewards of their own communities, should have the opportunity to express their voices as well. Thus, the LAND PROTECTORS project was born. In collaboration with the Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance, a team of 11 Land Protectors each created a work of art that responds to the question, “Why is this park worth saving?”. The responses, as expressed through dance, music, film, craft, digital media, sound, drawing, painting, installation, and performance, will be archived as a portfolio of arts-based evidence to be used by future activists who will have to prove the worth of the land should it come under risk again. The artwork, in addition to a print of Frederick Law Olmsted’s original, hand-drawn vision for this remarkable example of landscape architecture, was exhibited at the Sage Art Center at the University of Rochester in January 2024.