Parsons
Center showing fruits of founder's vision
Maggie Koopman first heard about the Jean Noble Parsons
Center for the Study of Art and Science last year. It
was while she was interviewing for an assistant professor
position in Eastern Michigan University's Biology Department.
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FINDING FROSTIC: Gretchen Eichberger
(standing),
the guest artist-in-residence at the
Jean Noble
Parsons Center for the Study of Art
and Science, goes
over the script of her play,
"Chaotic Harmony." The
production is based
on the life and legacy of the late
Gwen Frostic, a
world renowned artist-naturalist who
lived in northern Michigan.
Perfomers in the play are
(seated, from left) Jamaica
Weston, of Traverse City;
Hughthir White, of Empire;
Cornelia Dhasaleer, of
Charlevoix; and Denise Sica,
of Omena. The teaching
and nature center has been
in operation for
approximately a year. Photo
by John Rice |
The idea she came up with on the spot — to use plants
to examine how people have come up with the spectrum of
colors in the world of dyes — became the class, entitled "Botanical
Color and Fibers" she taught at the Parsons Center during
May.
It's been a year since Eastern Michigan dedicated Parsons'
$2.1 million bequest (property and cash she gifted to the
University) in improvements to the unique northern Michigan
teaching center in Lake Ann. The Parsons Center is beginning
to fulfill its mission, inspiring science and art through
nature just as sculptor and potter Jean Parsons hoped it
would.
Fresh off a first year of teaching 120-student lecture
classes, Koopman spent an intensive two-and-a-half days
harvesting plants and making dyes with six students. Using
local plants and fibers, the class came up with approximately
180 different colors, ranging from the subtle green of
maple flowers to the deep, rich red made from madder root.
The group worked so hard it didn't have the energy to
roast the marshmallows Koopman brought.
"It was phenomenal," said Koopman, who managed to land
her class on the first nice-weather weekend of the spring. "It's
a stunning setting. The buildings are phenomenal. I think
the students really enjoyed the off-campus setting. We
essentially stayed in one building and used the same kitchen
to make our dyes and cook our meals. ... It's a great way
to inspire students to see the world from a different perspective
outside the classroom."
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