In Winter semester of 2024, the Geography department initiated a Photo, Art and Map contest centered on the topic “Genius Loci”, or the spirit of place.
We invited students to submit any type of original visual creative work, including photography, art, graphic design, even maps, thinking broadly of “place:” buildings, cities, natural landscapes, historic sites, even events.
Our 3 submission categories were:
1. Sacred places of the Restored Gospel: Places that are important to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints_ (e.g., a temple, a pioneer town, the Sacred Grove)
2. Sacred places of World Religions: Places of significance to other spiritual movements_ (e.g., a Tibetan Monastery, the Dome of the Rock)
3. Inspirational places: Any place or Landscape that inspires you_ (e.g., a city, a mountain)
From when the contest opened on March 12th to when it closed on March 31st, we received 26 student submissions from all different majors.
The department plans to use these submissions on the KMBL tower 6th floor, on our website and communications. We hope to communicate faith and hope in our department media through these inspired submissions.
$900 in total cash prizes was awarded to our student winners. We awarded $150 to first place winners, $100 to second place and $50 to third place. Find the paragraph submissions for our 1st place winners in each category below, and photos of their submissions attached to this email.
“The Sacred Grove is quiet in the early summer morning and the air is cool under the provided shade. When I visited as a youth, I would find my own little place within the grove for personal study and quiet reflection. The leaves rustled in the gentle breeze as the sun rays peaked through the tree tops. I was roughly Joseph Smith's age so I often pondered on the experience of Joseph meeting God the Father and Jesus Christ as a young teenager in a tumultuous world of various religious beliefs. The Sacred Grove provided the necessary remoteness and peace from the town to allow deep questions concerning religious truths of the time for Joseph Smith. This image was taken in the Sacred Grove in a moment of sunlight peaking through the trees with rays of light shining down which allowed me to better envision the bright countenance when God and Jesus appeared to young Joseph Smith. When I returned as a young adult, I reflected on the darkness Joseph experienced while praying before God appeared. Often, life is full of trials that seem to have no end and are full of darkness, but light peaks through and God outshines all the hardships. Just as God did for Joseph Smith and has done for my life, God offers personal guidance if one has faith to seek light and truth. The Sacred Grove is such a place that allows for personal reflection with God and is possible through Joseph Smith's simple yet profound questions that opened the heavens for us today.”
“Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima, Japan holds a very special place in my heart. The torii gate, seemingly suspended on the water's surface during high tide, symbolizes a gateway between the earthly realm and the sacred. It evokes a sense of reverence and awe, as if inviting visitors to transcend mundane concerns and enter a realm where the spiritual and the physical merge harmoniously. The shrine itself dates back to the 12th century and the present floating torii was erected in 1875. The torii is a powerful symbol of Japanese culture and beliefs and visiting it allows people to immerse themselves in the timeless beauty and serenity of Japan's spiritual heritage.”
“This image comes from a small village situated in the south of France that is imbued with a deep sense of tranquility and calm. On the day I visited, the clouds were low and a salty breeze danced through the cobblestone streets, creating a serenity that I have not found elsewhere. To me, this small, mountainous village requires deep reflection, as the walls and paths all hearken to a different, more isolating, age. There is almost a sense of nostalgia for the stories that have transpired within its walls, creating a deep connection with the past. Further grounding oneself to this timelessness feeling is the peace granted by the natural environment. The Mediterranean lies below the cliffs and leafy foliage hangs around the paths, almost giving the village the same ambiance as a reflection garden. Truly, a place of utter peace and content.”