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ALTEN STUDIO
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#UNCULTIVATED

Based on curiosity, exploration, and play, unCultivated is a project by artist Danielle Wilborn designed to increase knowledge of available resources found in yards or vacant lots, develop skills, confidence, and self agency while fostering relationships through co-learning, and informal trade networks.
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This project stems from the artists inherent interest in and curiosity of the natural world and the resources it provides. While commercially obtained products require currency and infrastructure, handmade items can cost less in terms of overall environment and social impact and also allow individuals to develop knowledge, skills, and confidence transferable to many areas of life. Making items from found materials invokes a sense of play. Recipes are often adjusted for personal preference or there are multiple methods for getting a final product. This play allows individuals to tap into their innate desire for exploration and experimentation. 

Research will focus on the identification and uses of non-cultivated flora with an emphasis on uses outside of foodstuffs. The project will explore a variety of mediums, aspects of sustainability, recovery of “lost” folk knowledge or skills, and proper attribution of indigenous knowledge and the opportunities of bringing community cooperation into said projects with communal sharing of project outcomes. 

Sustainably harvesting and utilizing these resources may help communities retain and exercise agency in regards to their own available resources without the perceived need for top-down interventions. Such knowledge has traditionally been and often is passed from person to person, building middle distance relationships and an interconnected web of community, trade networks, and inter-generational relationships.

Research will be approached from two ends. The first will begin with established resources such as books or living sources of knowledge on native plants and foraging and sustainable or off-the-grid living. The second will begin with spending time on the above mentioned properties cataloging and identifying the non-cultivated plants present in those areas and then researching uses for those particular plants. Additional artists, artisans, crafters etc will be partnered with to learn and co-create items from the found resources.


Project Influences
Project Proposal
Bibliography
Dye Color Chart
Project Reflection

Participation

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Artist Linda Fritschner using the homemade charcoal sticks! #indianaartist #homemade #charcoal #uncultivated

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 3, 2020 at 6:52am PDT

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Smile, it’s Friday. Experimenting with my friend’s homemade drawing charcoal. @altenstudio made the charcoal from wild grape vine. I’d have to say, it was rather enjoyable. It’s brittle, but fantastic edges for fine lines and a nice deep black color. I dig it. #drawing #charcoal #homemadecharcoal #wildgrapevine #draw #charcoaldrawing #wildlifeart #natureart #crocodile #animalart #parabolastar #illustrator #illustration #illustrationartists #uncultivated @buchananartcenter

A post shared by Dennis A! (@parabolastar) on Jun 26, 2020 at 11:28am PDT

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More paper today! Cotton base with mower clippings. Roughly 8 hour cook down for the clippings. Still not sure it was rinsed fully but since I'm designing the project as a temporary and biodegradable installation potential breakdown is what I'm going for anyway. #papermakingwithplants #papermaking #installationpiece #inprogress #temporaryart

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 12, 2020 at 6:20pm PDT

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Finally getting the hang of this ink making thing. Maybe. #foragedartsupplies #foragedink #sustainability #uncultivated #walnutink

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 6, 2020 at 11:31pm PDT

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Horse sketch in Charcoal by Joan Spohrer
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Buchanan Chamber of Commerce Project Listing: Member Newsletter
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More plant dyed squares returned! From Carrie B. #foragedartsupplies #dye #collab

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jul 1, 2020 at 9:53pm PDT

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Outer pillow case made from foraged plant dyed squares to be stuffed with goosegrass (bedstraw). I had help with the sewing. #handdyed #forageddyes #blackbeans #rhubarb #yellowiris #staghornsumac #azaleas #yellowonion #broadleafdock

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 14, 2020 at 10:03am PDT

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Gave my sister some of my foraged spruce tips and she made me spruce tip ice cream! Impossible to describe the flavor but I really like it. #sprucetipsyrup #icecream #forage #yummy #refreshing

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 8, 2020 at 6:08pm PDT

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Natural dye experiment. L-R: rhubarb leaf, hibiscus flower, avocado and turmeric. @altenstudio

A post shared by Bonita L. Bent (@quillwoman1) on Jun 3, 2020 at 7:24am PDT

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Ready to bottle already! Looking forward to tasting it Friday. Hope it tastes as good as it looks! #homemade #soda #pineneedles #blackraspberry #strawberry #mulberry #rhubarb #rawhoney

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 28, 2020 at 7:55pm PDT

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Latest adventure. Mixed berry soda. Fermented with natural yeast supplemented with 71b. Using LaSalle Square raw honey from @unitygardens #foraged #pineneedles #blackraspberry #mulberry #strawberry #rhubarb #rawhoney #honeyfromthehood #fermentation

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 26, 2020 at 10:22pm PDT

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Latest experiment. Does Saponaria ocymoides work as well as Saponaria officinalis? So far seems promising. I think it needs a bit more plant vs water that officinalis though. Also, I should know by now that if I need an art thing or a plant thing one of my friends will have it. Did a round of supply and kit drops offs only to end up with a trunk full of new stuff to work with. #forage #soap #usefulweeds #imadeitmyself #dryingrack

A post shared by Danielle (@altenstudio) on Jun 1, 2020 at 11:08pm PDT

Field Notebook

Field Notebook

Installation

Art in Social Retrospective Exhibit at BAC

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