Course Syllabus
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2026 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Communication |
| Prerequisite(s): |
None |
| Faculty Members: |
Ursula Beck (current students please use the Canvas Inbox) |
| Time & Place: |
Fridays 11:40-2:35 in Skindergade 12-02 "Firestation" (unless otherwise indicated) |
Course Description
In order to fully be present in life, it is necessary to stop and observe. Rather than ‘passing through’ a new environment, one can practice mindfulness as a way to learn from novel surroundings. In this course we will develop the formal practice of mindful observation through drawing and creative writing on location, engaging all of our senses in meaningful spots around København.
Through creative exercises and readings in literature and philosophy, we will develop an understanding of ‘place’ and the process of ‘slowing down,’ of being present in a location, in order to internalize our surroundings and gain a deeper appreciation of them. You will explore your creative voice through the mediums of pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, and written words. By recording impressions and reflecting on the experience, you will gain facility in writing and drawing while connecting fully to your environment. We will apply these approaches towards connecting new experiences with our previous life experiences.
This course will be an individual and collective exploration — the content of the course will be formed, in part, through what you each bring to our shared exploration and creative process, in the same way we as human beings assign meaning and co-create places together.
Instructor: Ursula Beck
Master of Fine Arts: Critical & Pedagogical Studies, Malmö Art Academy, Sweden. Bachelor of Arts: Studio Art, University of Puget Sound, USA. Curatorial Assistant, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle. Artist Studio & Gallery Assistant, Portland, Oregon. Gallery Assistant, Portland Art Museum. Art Lecturer & Visiting Faculty, various institutions, USA and Sweden, 2018 - 2020. With DIS since 2021.
Objectives
- To practice observation as a means of attaining deeper understandings of place
- To understand and discuss concepts of time and place
- To learn to tap into a ‘mindful state’ via the practice of observation
- To understand the use of mindfulness in the service of creative flow
- To exercise other senses (i.e., smell, touch, sound) in the practice of observation
- To gain a proficiency in visual journaling and creative writing
Expectations
The expectations for this class are as follows:
- Participants will be on time and attend all class sessions. We meet once a week, so time is precious!
- Participants will fully engage, robustly and with sincerity - this project requires thoughtfulness and commitment.
- Participants will have completed reading assignments before class starts. Often the reading will directly tie to the work of the day, and arriving without absorbing the reading will leave you impoverished.
- Participants will complete all journaling assignments (both drawn and written).
- Participants will participate in classroom viewings, where all members of the class share their work. This is a time for feedback and critical thinking about our work.
- Participants will bring all necessary materials to class, ready for use.
Evaluations
Based on the above expectations, participants will be evaluated on their effort, both in class and in independent work. Daily written mindful entries in your journals are require - that's roughly 100 entries over the course of the semester. Prompts will be given for independent work, some will be required, while others will be suggested only. At least three of these per week will be fully illustrated, two independently, and one as a class exercise.
Grade Breakdown
| Attendance & Participation | 30% |
| Visual Journal | 35% |
| Creative Writing Journal Work | 35% |
Intended Student Audience
This course is intended for curious minds who wish to understand the concepts and construction of ‘place’, especially by using creative practice and mindfulness to explore the cultures around them, as well as how creative and reflective exercises can be conducive to mindfulness.
Student work will be entirely journal based and much of the semester will be spent outside of the classroom and engaged in independent work. Previous art experience is welcome but not required. We will find a comfortable place for students of all drawing levels.
Materials
DIS will provide the following materials:
- Sketchbook
- Watercolor paint kit and brush
- Pencils and pens
- Pencil sharpeners
- Erasers
You may wish to purchase additional materials to experiment with throughout the semester.
Readings
The following titles are examples of readings, not a complete list. Readings may include:
- The Scent of Time: A Philosophical Essay on the Art of Lingering, Byung-Chul Han
- The Power of Place: Urban Landscapes as Public History, Dolores Hayden
- Mindfulness & The Art of Drawing, Wendy Ann Greenhalgh
- An attempt at exhausting a place in Paris, Georges Perec
- The Art of Field Sketching, Clare Walker Leslie
- The Art of City Sketching: A Field Manual, Michael C Abrams
- Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- A Sense of Place, The Upper New Review
- A Literature of Place, Barry Lopez
- An-My Lê, The artist seeks herself in the landscape, NYT Jan 17, 2024
- On Flaneurs, Walter Benjamin
The course will also include place specific readings on the history of Copenhagen and Denmark, for orientation and depth of knowledge, such as:
- The Colours of Copenhagen, Lange Bente
- We, the Drowned, Carsten Jensen
There will also be short readings on the senses, experience and time, such as:
- Arctic Dreams, Barry Lopez
- The Death of the Moth, Virginia Woolf
- Segment of Remembrances of Things Past, Marcel Proust
- How to Practice, Ann Patchett
- Moving On, A Love Story, Nora Ephron (May 29, 2006)
- Byung-Chul Han, How Objects Lost their Magic, Art Review, Gesine Borcherdt, 2021
The required readings are available on Canvas and will be assigned class to class.
DIS Accommodations Statement
Your learning experience in this class is important to me. If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support acadsupp@dis.dk.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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