Nicolaii Dornstauder MFA Thesis Spring 2009

A Philosophy of Camp Prosthesis

I drive a 1978 Volkswagen van. In it are a sink, an icebox, built-in propane stove, and numerous compartments in which to organize things. The van is an extension of my home, a mediator between my constructed space and the outdoors. Although the van affords me the comforts of home, I enjoy camping with next to nothing. Once outdoors, I welcome the unpleasant feelings that nature may deliver. I surrender to nature, in an attempt to achieve a momentary catharsis from the everyday. And although I do not necessarily enjoy the ways in which the elements may feel, I embrace them for their honesty. The cold takes over my body, and in this I feel apart of something greater. I confess that I partake in the ritual of camping because it is only temporary. Eventually, I know that I will cross the threshold back into the familiarity of my van, which will carry me closer to the even more familiar — home. The threshold is always there, inviting me to cross it, providing me with the paradox of being human. With this thesis, I wanted to explore the human longing for nature and the subsequent creation of a fantasy of the outdoors. I introduce five objects that act as prosthetics that humans use to experience nature. These objects act as an extension of the human into the natural world, a world in which we do not use our bare hands. The human hand is detached from the natural world, and as a result, is the creator of a different reality.

Ravina Schneider BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Vanessa Kauffman BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Benjamin Kellgren BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Yiu-Hong Leung BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Rebecca Merrill BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Angela Miller BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Jason Powell BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Sarah Roach BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Jenny Hannah Roche BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Rainbow Ross BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Brenna Murphy BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Claire LaMont BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Alex Kneller BFA Thesis Spring 2009

April Robertson BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Fae Young-Scherling BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Mariana Worden BFA 2009 Thesis

Allison-Rose Woodin BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Jacob Winfield BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Katherine Gibson BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Paul Wagenblast BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Mathew Grigsby BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Thomas Robert Himes BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Robert Maxwell Humphres BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Vanessa Johnson BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Brendan Vail BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Sean Timson BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Jade Sheldon BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Maddison Bond BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Diane Chonette BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Nicole Dill BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Lynsey Douglas BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Brooke Eastburn BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Charmaine Taylor BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Katherine Murphy BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Aidan Koch BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Jeremy Le Grand BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Sarah Johnson BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Craig Wheat VS MFA Thesis Spring 2009

Matthew Wilson VS MFA Thesis 2009

Robert Heyes VS MFA Thesis 2009

Adolph Bastendorff BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Hannah Burgoyne BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Laurie Carter BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Chelsea Heffner VS MFA Thesis 2009

Matthew Green VS MFA Thesis 2009

Gavin Eveland BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Tesar Freeman BFA Thesis Spring 2009

Jacob Fennell VS MFA Thesis 2009

Nicolaii Dornstauder MFA Thesis Spring 2009

Sean Joseph Patrick Carney VS MFA Thesis 2009

Nicole Eriko Smith VS MFA Thesis 2009

Rebecca Steele VS MFA Thesis 2009

Paige Saez-Falcon VS MFA Thesis 2009

Michael Reinsch VS MFA Thesis 2009

Andy Pilarski VS MFA Thesis 2009

Tricia Martin VS MFA Thesis 2009