The library in the studio in Māwhera Greymouth has as section of books about design, amongst them some that relate to nature.
A 1974 edition of Design Lessons from Nature has just been added to that collection. Written by Benjamin deBrie Taylor and published in the United States, the book contains the “substance of talks given to a freshman class at |Pratt Institute in the 1967-68 academic year”. It has photographs of the work by students done in that class. The talks, “Form and Structure”, centred on seeing, feeling and examining materials before making art based on those experiences. It has prints made from real fish, drawings of leaves and bones, photographs of sculptures, and models of bridges, all relating to the natural world.
This is a fascinating look at not only how artists can use nature to stimulate the senses and creativity, but also a glimpse into the teaching style of this Parisian-born, Harvard-educated artist and educator.
The library is open to the public by appointment or whenever the studio is open. To make an appointment please email.