Aaron C. Elswick

Background

About Aaron C. Elswick

The curiosity that shaped me into who I am today is now the fuel for my creative capacity. The mediums of my artistic expression were once paints and pencils but now, as a civic artist, they are buildings, vegetation and other urban features. The worldview I wish to share is that of uniquely identifiable cities. Moving frequently throughout my life, I have been fortunate enough to experience first-hand the impact a strong identity can have on a place. Becoming aware of the shortcomings in the connection of civitas and genus loci inspired me to pursue a profession involved in mitigating the gap. As a landscape architect I discovered that by addressing solely the landscape, these solutions became fragmented. The same situation applies to sustainability, which I feel is a moral obligation. The distinction of the built and natural environments must be erased for sustainability to be obtained. If the human population is to ever become a viable civilization, the evolution must begin in our cities. Diagnosing this truth lead me to urban design, where presently I am looking to nature for the answers. By viewing the city as an urban ecosystem I am attempting to identify opportunities to diversify the interaction of urban systems. Going further, I seek to continue the expansion of my understanding of the urban environment through a professional view point.