Kelsey Jones is from Knoxville, Tennessee and is in her final year of the MLA program.
1. What was your undergraduate experience and how did it influence your decision to pursue a MLA?
I majored in Environmental Studies which allowed me to take a transdisciplinary approach to my schooling. I took geology, botany, philosophy, and ceramics courses primarily. My advisor recommended I take Urban Ecology, which is a Landscape Architecture course, and that was my first proper introduction. I studied abroad in Copenhagen and once I graduated, I did a year serving with AmeriCorps in the City of Knoxville Urban Forestry. The combination of my undergraduate experience coupled with study abroad and AmeriCorps inspired me to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture.
I majored in Environmental Studies which allowed me to take a transdisciplinary approach to my schooling. I took geology, botany, philosophy, and ceramics courses primarily. My advisor recommended I take Urban Ecology, which is a Landscape Architecture course, and that was my first proper introduction. I studied abroad in Copenhagen and once I graduated, I did a year serving with AmeriCorps in the City of Knoxville Urban Forestry. The combination of my undergraduate experience coupled with study abroad and AmeriCorps inspired me to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture.
2. What activities do you pursue outside the school?
I work part time as a groundskeeper for a private residence in Knoxville. I also love to run, cook, and make pottery when I find the time. When I am not working on school, I try and be outside as much as possible.
I work part time as a groundskeeper for a private residence in Knoxville. I also love to run, cook, and make pottery when I find the time. When I am not working on school, I try and be outside as much as possible.
3. Do you have any advice for future landscape architecture students?
I would encourage future LA students to take elective courses outside the discipline. Some of the most useful courses I have taken in terms of shifting my perspective and encouraging me to dig into various forms of representation were architecture electives. I also would suggest using the Fab Lab. Now in my last semester, I regret not taking advantage of the fabrication technologies as much as I should’ve.
I would encourage future LA students to take elective courses outside the discipline. Some of the most useful courses I have taken in terms of shifting my perspective and encouraging me to dig into various forms of representation were architecture electives. I also would suggest using the Fab Lab. Now in my last semester, I regret not taking advantage of the fabrication technologies as much as I should’ve.
4. What was your favorite class? What did you like about it?
My third semester I took an elective course titled “Oblique Strategies/// One” (the title is in reference to U2’s creative process) taught by Brian Ambroziak. This course was centered around time-based media exploration. Overall, dissecting screenplays, scripts, and film frames leant me another way to look at the creative process and push the boundaries of typical representation strategies.
My third semester I took an elective course titled “Oblique Strategies/// One” (the title is in reference to U2’s creative process) taught by Brian Ambroziak. This course was centered around time-based media exploration. Overall, dissecting screenplays, scripts, and film frames leant me another way to look at the creative process and push the boundaries of typical representation strategies.
5. Do you have a favorite studio project you have worked on?
My favorite studio is my current studio. I chose the MLP, or thesis route, and am looking at how digital technologies (specifically videogames) can challenge and offer new opportunities for the discipline. My past studios- “Rural Is…” with Scottie McDaniel and “Prophetic Landscapes” with Andrew Madl pushed me into new conceptual territories by theory and by technology that inspired me to choose the thesis route. It has been fun being able to choose the rabbit holes I venture down. I’m grateful to continue to work with both Andrew (Chair) and Scottie (Committee member) as well as Mark Stanley and Liz Teston on this project. Formulating my own research questions, setting my own pace, learning new software, and keeping to the core of my abstract have all been challenging and rewarding. It’s been good for me.
My favorite studio is my current studio. I chose the MLP, or thesis route, and am looking at how digital technologies (specifically videogames) can challenge and offer new opportunities for the discipline. My past studios- “Rural Is…” with Scottie McDaniel and “Prophetic Landscapes” with Andrew Madl pushed me into new conceptual territories by theory and by technology that inspired me to choose the thesis route. It has been fun being able to choose the rabbit holes I venture down. I’m grateful to continue to work with both Andrew (Chair) and Scottie (Committee member) as well as Mark Stanley and Liz Teston on this project. Formulating my own research questions, setting my own pace, learning new software, and keeping to the core of my abstract have all been challenging and rewarding. It’s been good for me.
Studio // Instructor Andrew Madl
Studio // Instructor Andrew Madl
Studio // Instructor Scottie McDaniel
Studio // Instructor Andrew Madl
