Introduction.  

People of this generation, since their youth, have been taught factually about the regressing climate and environment of the earth. Is knowing about the man-made dangers harming nature enough to form environmental altruism for our environment? Through observations and research outdoors, inspiration will be acquired to create 4 poems that relate human experiences to nature metaphors. Accompanied by paintings and audio recordings, it will create an immersive experience that will inspire empathy and a deeper connection to one’s natural environment. 

Literature Review.  

This Capstone project was heavily inspired by English Romantic poets from the 18th century. The poems used in the capstone had poetic devices such as metaphors, to relate nature to modern human experiences different than the topics addressed in the examples. The sources bolster the project’s purpose, influence the topics covered in the poems, and lead to the curation plan becoming an immersive experience.

1. The Power of Poetry.

Poems are strong ways people can get inspired to come together instead of relying on big agencies. Felstiner argues poetry is an effective medium for combating environmental degradation because instead of the focus shifting to environmental science, government leadership, corporate moderation, and nonprofit activism, “[r]esponse starts with individuals, it’s individual persons that poems are spoken by and spoken to” (Felstiner, xiii). 

2. The Poet William Wordsworth.

“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth was the first poem that influenced this capstone project. His nature poems during this Romantic period used personification beautifully to relate nature to people. This is seen in the lines, “When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze” (Wordsworth, lines 4-6). People and their actions could be compared to things like flowers, to create a sense of connection or empathy for plants.

Methods. 

The methods used in this capstone include literature reviews, media reviews, dry brush techniques, and poetic devices such as metaphors, similies, and personification. Primary research was conducted in the form of 1-hour long outdoor sessions at the artist’s favorite beautiful spots on the University of Maryland, College Park campus. If the hour was not enough, more time would be spent sitting in these spaces and strolling the area to take in the presence of plants like at the Memorial Chapel. Notes of inspiration and sparks of beauty seen outside would be jotted to influence possible ideas for the poetry topics. 

Audience & Impact.  

The intended audience is people with a negative or neutral relationship with nature. This capstone project can be a starting point to have them question their thoughts on the value of nature in their lives. The paintings and audio recordings were included, not just for more accessibility, but also for more ways of gaining interest to get these people to read the poems. For the Capstone’s creator, this experience has led them to see how useful art like poetry is in current issues and how prevalent they are in the fight for environmental justice. 

References.  

Felstiner, John. Can Poetry Save the Earth?: A Field Guide to Nature Poems, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009. https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300155532

Wordsworth, William. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth.” Poetry Foundation, 1807, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45521/i-wandered-lonely-as-a-cloud. Accessed 27 November 2023.

Acknowledgments.

I’d like to acknowledge the help, guidance, and support of the Art Scholar instructors Harold Burgess and Heather Bremenstuhl, Art Scholars peers from my CPSA250 class, my friends Autumn Worthington and Uma Ribeiro, and my family Sang Woo Lee, Jeong Im Lee-Jang, and Grace Lee.