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Date of lecture: September 24, 2025
2025 Strom Memorial Lecture
The Wisdom of Place
Throughout time, people have shaped their environments according to their first-hand experiences and instinctive understandings of natural phenomena; landscape design was informed by the concept of genius loci, or “spirit of place.” Recognizing and honoring the genius loci is the first step in preserving the ecological integrity of place while creating spaces for human use and enjoyment. Our research presents a survey of global myths, legends, and folklore based on a deep understanding of the genius, or spirit, of the land. It offers a new framework for their application and interpretation. In this age of profound climate disruption and ecological upheaval, the time is ripe to reconsider and honor the sanctity of the land, to reimagine the role of the earth spirits in bringing forth a new era of landscape consciousness and care.
BIOGRAPHIES
Chip Sullivan is an artist and professor emeritus of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, who has devoted his career to promoting landscape architecture as an art form. Chip has earned national and international recognition for his expertise in landscape representation as well as innovative energy-conserving design. He is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.
Elizabeth Boults is a licensed landscape architect and educator with over 25 years of professional and academic experience. Her areas of focus are landscape history, representation, and site design. She is a SITES (Sustainable Environmental Design) Accredited Professional who maintains a landscape design practice founded on promoting environmental consciousness and ecological narratives. Elizabeth holds a leadership position with the American Society of Landscape Architects. She is a senior lecturer in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis.