university of the trees is a participatory, international, social sculpture exploring appropriate action through new ways of perceiving trees, forests and our relationship to the world
ABOUT
University of the Trees is a flexible social sculpture framework in which the trees are our teachers and the ecological crisis is seen as an opportunity for consciousness.
This website explains the ethos of the University of the Trees project and how the project works.
It also presents key ideas like 'instruments of consciousness' and 'new organs of perception' that are central to the University of the Trees project.
University of the Trees enables groups and individuals around the world to participate in processes of joined up thinking, perception and action.
The project also takes forward the social sculpture strategies and commitments embedded in Joseph Beuys' ‘expanded conception of art', especially the awakened relationship to nature and the emphasis on ecological consciousness initiated with his 7000 Oaks.
Explore the ARCHIVE section for documentation, reflections and resources.
PARTICIPATE
Local groups constitute this growing social sculpture network - connecting individual insight, focused dialogue and collective action towards the shaping of a humane and ecologically viable world.
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Start a group with the University of the Trees kit
Join an existing group in your region.
Other ways you can contribute
See blogs for each region
NEWS
International Weekend Forum - 26 and 27 July 2008
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE
University of the Trees at CCANW, Haldon Forest, Exeter
On 26 and 27 July, University of the Trees (Exeter Region, UK) will become an exploratory forum to experience and consider new ways of connecting with the world and what we mean by developing ‘new organs of perception'*.
It will also be an opportunity to get closer to the social sculpture ideas and their relationship to the University of the Trees as an ‘instrument of consciousness' in our work toward a humane and ecologically just society.
The three guest speakers -Dr. Chris Seeley, Dieter Schuhmacher and Prof. Volker Harlan are all actively involved in the University of the Trees project or related connective practices. See www.universityofthetrees.org (about / project people)
Through presentations, discussion and experiential processes in the forest they will open up the space to explore how the University of the Trees relates to our work towards an ecologically just society.
Day 1: Presentations at CCANW and participatory processes in the forest with the three visiting presenters, introduced by Shelley Sacks (10.30 -6 pm)
Day 2: Further exploratory day for UoT Group, Exeter and interested Day 1 participants (10.30 -4.30)
For more detailed programme see NEWS
If you have not been involved in the University of the Trees meetings and processes before, please come one hour earlier on Sat 26 July. Shelley Sacks will introduce you to the project. It would be helpful if you could look at the UoT website to acquaint yourself with the project beforehand.
Booking is essential for both days. Please contact Johanna Korndorfer at CCANW
j.korndorfer@ccanw.co.uk or Tel: 00 44 (0) 01392 83 22 77
Contributions: Day 1: £10 (Consc. £8) -Bring a packed lunch; Day 2: £5 (Lunch provided)
*‘New organs of perception' is a phrase that stems from the scientific work of Goethe, who contrasted a participatory, holistic mode of seeing to onlooker consciousness. Joseph Beuys' used this phrase too to emphasise the need for new forms of knowing and perceiving that would lead us to act in a more connected way. Some of our organs of perception -like eyes, ears and tongue - are already fairly well developed at birth. But others, our higher human organs of perception - like the ability to empathise, to develop a conscience, to perceive the idea in things and the interconnections in the world- need to be developed.
University of the Trees creates an arena and a framework for exploring our relationship to the world, and for enabling us to develop actions based on new insights and perceptions.
Find out what University of the Trees groups are doing - get information on University of the Trees events and meetings
News in Brief
Exeter region - recent meetings
13 January, 31 March, 8 May, 21 June 2008
Exeter region University of the Trees core group meetings have been taking place at CCANW, Haldon Forest since Jan 2008.
For more information about the group, the next meeting and how to get involved please contact: Ruth Harvey-Regan 07824812011 or 01392 434636
email: ruthharveyregan@hotmail.com
Darmstadt region meeting
24 February 2008
Core group members of the UoT met recently to reflect on the past year's activities and ways forward for the coming year. For details of the next meeting please contact Dieter Schuhmacher: 06151 3689244 or Tel: Atelierhaus Vahle: 06151 751 21
Prof. Dr. Volker Harlan's text - presented at the Stetig Wachsen conference (Darmstadt July 2006) on The Forest as a Social Sculpture soon to be accessed from the Archive section of this site in English and German.
World Environment Day talk
(5 June 2007) at CCANW
Coming soon on this site: The transcript of this presentation gives a sense of this long-term, participatory project being developed with Shelley Sacks, Director of the Social Sculpture Research Unit at Oxford Brookes University.