Images of the Plains: Culture, the Land, and its Uses

Panelists include Rex Buchanan, Lisa Grossman, Wes Jackson, and Donald Worster. Moderated by Burke Griggs Spencer Museum of Art / 5:30 PM Each panelist will select one of the following questions on which to present. The presentations will be followed by discussion among the panelists and the event will be concluded by opening the floor to questions from the audience. 1) Which force is more prevalent, the influence of culture on the landscape or the influence of the landscape on culture? 2) How do images of the Plains reflect or indicate changing perspectives or points of view? 3) A major theme of the exhibition is the notion that we view nature as a resource. We often automatically view this tendency as negative, by thinking of it in economic terms only - as a kind of commoditization. Can this trait be seen as positive? Can we think of nature as a resource in non-economic terms? Can it be harnessed to bring about positive change?