San Diego—April 9, 2012—NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD) Landscape Architecture Program Chair Leslie Ryan is curating an exhibition that explores ideas for repurposing urban areas as sources of locally grown food. The eat here now exhibition opens April 14 at the Art Produce Gallery in San Diego. Concepts developed by NSAD students will be displayed at the event, which is being done in conjunction with this year’s National Landscape Architecture Month theme of “Public Health & Active Living.”

The month-long exhibition, which focuses on the San Diego community of North Park, features design concepts that utilize available spaces along streets, on roofs, in yards and in vacant lots to encourage the production of local food.  The benefits of using public spaces as urban farms include fuel and water savings and encouraging healthier communities. The concepts come from NSAD architecture students, as well as those in the school’s landscape architecture program. Their work is being coordinated as an outside-classroom project by Ryan, who is also highlighting contributions from other local artists, farmers, activists and community members.

Landscape architects work with communities to encourage public health and active living, advocating for and designing public spaces that emphasize pedestrian experience, urban ecologies, and social well-being. Landscape architects also create parks and other green spaces, such as urban agriculture projects that can provide residents with access to locally grown nutritious food. National Landscape Architecture Month, promoted through the American Society of Landscape Architects, is meant to bring attention throughout April to the many contributions of the landscape architecture community.

Where: Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave. San Diego, Calif.
When: Opening night April 14, 6–9 p.m. Exhibition runs through May 15, 2012.
 

About NewSchool of Architecture and Design
NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD), founded in 1980, is located in San Diego, California. NSAD is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. NSAD’s Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Executive Master of Architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NSAD also offers a pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Arts, a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, a Master of Landscape Architecture, a Master of Construction Management and a Master of Science in Architecture. NSAD was ranked among the top 10 undergraduate architecture schools in the western United States, according to the DesignIntelligence report “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools 2012.” For more information, visit www.NewSchoolArch.edu.
 

Media Contact:
Anna Cearley
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Tel. 1-619-684-8791
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