
Catherine Harris
Education
- MFA, Stanford University
- MLA, University of California, Berkeley
Research
- Post-human Studies
- Trans-species Studies
- Virtual Reality in Landscape Architecture
Catherine Page Harris, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture at University of New Mexico in the School of Architecture & Planning. BA, Harvard University, 1988, MLA, UC Berkeley, 1997, and MFA, Stanford University, 2005. Harris’ community design experience includes “The Sharing Shelves” a multi-year collaboration with the International District Healthy Communities Committee, Michaele Pride, and students, to create an artifact for community conversations. Harris co-taught the DPAC design studio for two years and has collaborated with communities through art and design for fifteen. Founder of the Indigenous Design Studio in Landscape Architecture at UNM with the Indigenous Design + Planning Institute. Recent projects include Poured Earth Collective with architect Charlie O’Geen, developing projects involved in creating structure from site, the sharing shelves, a creative placemaking project in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the Red Water Pond Road Community Peace Center, an NEA ArtWorks funded project to create a space to memorialize the impacts of legacy mining on indigenous land, and sharing a drink, observing humans and non-humans share water. Trans-species Repast–sharing meals with animals – an exploration of hierarchy, resources and landscape– was shown in 2016 at the Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, and UNM Art Museum, in 2015 at the Land Shape Festival in Hanstholm, DK, and Marble House Project, Dorset, VT and the Wignall Museum, CA, in 2014. Current research includes listening to indigenous landscape, developing 3D imaging of botanical resilience, and proposing urban posthuman places. Pedagogical foci include indigeneity, designing for climate change, social equity, and resilience.
LA 503: Resilient design and systems in landscape architecture, currently focusing on resilient communities in the arid southwest.
LA 563: Contemporary Theory in Landscape Architecture,
ARTS 141: Intro to Art & Ecology
“Hypnagogia” in Fieldwork, Paula Horrigan and Thomas Oles, eds and authors, Routledge, 2024
“The problem is the burning house,” Chapter in Transpecies Design, Adrian Parr and Liska Chan, Eds., Routledge, 2024
co-author, “Design with Dignity: UNM DPAC” Conference Proceedings, Cosmopolitan Architect, ACSA Teaching Conference, 2023, Reykjavik
“Fabric Formed Unstabilized Poured Earth: Four-Dimensional Wall Systems” Technology|Architecture + Design: Tectonics, Charlie O’Geen and Catherine Page Harris, Pages 109-119 | Published online: 01 Jun 2023
“Poured earth formwork: limiting transportation by using fabric and temporary staging as permanent structure” Earth USA 2022, conference proceedings, Charlie O’Geen and Catherine Page Harris
“Poured Earth Formwork: Using Fabric to Eliminate Portland Cement” ARCC Miami conference proceedings, 2022, Charlie O’Geen and Catherine Page Harris
“Teaching students to think by creating” Green Fire Times, September, 2017
Landscape Research Record No. 2, Morphogenesis in the Landscape 2014
Media-N, trans-species habitat essay 2013
Between Ecological Art & Design, Infrastructural Intervention, Arid Journal 2013
Dipodomys merriami:Desert Rat, Arid Journal 2012
Trans-species Habitat: ISEA Machine Wilderness Catalog essay 2012
Survival Kit Collective: (Joy Elaine Denett, Nina Dubois, Catherine Harris, Ryan Henel )Arcosantian economics, Biospherian aesthetics, Journal of Aesthetics and Protest, Marc Herbst, ed, 2010-2011
Walking and the Artist Residency or the 21st Century Flaneur, CELA 2009
The Many Challenges of Dining with Animals, Matthew Irwin, 10/8/2015
Exhibition’s meals between animals and humans challenges assumption that we stand atop hierarchy of life, Jackie Jadrnak, Albuquerque Journal North, 10/2/2015
"Art & Ecology, Exploring the origin of Food through art, Edible Santa Fe, 2015
Landscape Research Record No. 2, Morphogenesis in the Landscape 2014
"Media-N," trans-species habitat essay 2013
"Between Ecological Art & Design, Infrastructural Intervention," Arid Journal 2013
"Dipodomys merriami: Desert Rat," Arid Journal 2012
"Trans-species Habitat" ISEA Machine Wilderness Catalog essay 2012
Walking and the Artist Residency or the 21st Century Flaneur, CELA 2009
"Five Stories, a life in art," thesis for Master of Fine Arts 2005
"Chris Grubbs, Illustrator," in Landscape Architecture Magazine 2001
"Dirt on Broadway", thesis for Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture 1997
Sylvan Delta, published by left hand books, NY 1993
Scholarship & Presentations
Trans Species Landscapes: Sentient Worlds, CELA 2025 Portland, OR
Trans Species Landscapes: 3D printing, fungi and pots, CELA 2025, Portland, OR
But how could we know if it is what they want? Designing for Animals in the Post-Anthropocene, Biophilia: Designing
For Animals, Ecology + Design Center Symposium, Penn State University, March 2025
Design for Dignity: DPAC UNM, ACSA Teachers Conference, Cosmopolitan Architect, Reykjavik, Iceland, Summer 2023
Recent work, Transpecies Design Symposium, European Cultural Center, Future Cities; Livable Futures Venice, Italy, Spring 2023
“Poured earth formwork: limiting transportation by using fabric and temporary staging as permanent structure” Earth USA, Santa Fe, NM, 2022,
“Fabric Formed Poured Earth and Terroir” CELA, Bernalillo, NM 2022
Indigenous Design Studio at UNM, CELA, Bernalillo, NM 2022
“Poured Earth Formwork: Using Fabric to Eliminate Portland Cement” ARCC Miami, 2022
“Indigenous Design and Climate Change” EcoFest CUNY, NY 2021
“Variance Line” Ecological Society of America, 2020
ASLA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Webinar Series: presented in National ASLA webinar presentation: Decentering the
Eurocentric Design Process: Indigenous Landscape Architecture at the University of New Mexico (2020.12.11)
“creative placemaking 4 activism” with Michaele Pride and Katya Crawford, Interview KUNM, University Showcase, May 2018
‘condensate mesh’ ArtPark21, Open Space, ABQ, 2018, KOAT interview
Red Water Pond Road Community ‘sharing a drink’ Creative Mornings, Santa Fe, NM 2016
rans-species Repast: Current work, SEED Talks, Marble House Project, VT, 2015
Trans-species Repast: Family Dinner, LandShape Symposium, Hanstholm, DK, 2015
Trans-species Repast: Eating the Landscape, HEAD, Geneva Switzerland. 2015
Algaeic Infrastructure: Morphogenesis, Balloon Museum, Albuquerque, NM 2015
Morphogenesis in the Landscape: Algaeic Infrastructure, Council of Educators in LA, 2014
Pechakucha ABQ, Algaeic Infrastructure, 2013
Pechakucha ABQ, Something Small: trans-species habitat 2013
Current Work, ISEA Machine Wilderness, individual presentation 2012
Trans-species Habitat, ISEA Machine Wilderness, sub theme address 2012
Landscape in Motion, for Landscape and Culture Panel, curated by Kelly Wacker, SECAC 2011
Art and Landscape, Celebrando, Arid Land Institute, 2011
ANABATs, Water and Other projects: collaborations with Mammologists, Hydrologists and other daVincian pursuits, at Curiouser: SECAC, 2010
Current Work: Dipodomys merramii, SEV LTER, 2010
Borders, lines and ecological disturbances at cultural edges: Department of Geography, UNM, 2010
Navajo, NM, Red Lake Chapter, Navajo Nation, 2015
Town ScenariosRed Water Pond Road Community, Navajo Nation, 2017
Resilient Community Green School Board, 2014
Cien Aguas International School, Albuquerque, NM Coors and Montano: Community Performance Space, Taylor Ranch Neighborhood Association, 2015
Interim Uses Alvarado and Eastern, Cien Aguas International School, 2014
Proforma and Development plan, Cien Aguas International School, 2014
Coors and Montano: Bosque Interwoven Community, Taylor Ranch Neighborhood Association, 2012
Funded Residency, Marble House Project, Dorset, Vermont 2015
CFA Research Grant, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 2015
Barrett Honors Thesis External Reviewer, Arizona State University,Herberger Inst. Tempe, AZ, 2015
Wallenberg Studio Reviewer, University of Michigan, School of Architecture, Ann Arbor, MI, 2013
Frontier Fellow Epicenter, Green River, UT 2013
Research Development Grant, with Michaele Pride (PI) and others UNM School of Architecture and Planning, Albuquerque, NM, 2012
CFA Research Grant, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 2011
PLAND residency with Topo- graphia Collective, PLAND, Tres Piedres, NM, 2010-2011
Arts and Humanities at the LTER, Andrews Experimental Forest, FR 130, Oregon, 2010
Arts and Humanities at the LTER, Workgroup, Estes Park, CO, 2010
Interdisciplinary Research Grant, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 2010
Foodshed Field School, Bruce Milne (PI) and others, USDA,Albuquerque, NM, 2010-2012
CFA Seed Grant, College of Fine Arts, University of New Mexico $4,000 Albuquerque, NM, 2010
CFA Research Grant, College of Fine Arts, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 2009
Murphy Cadogan Award, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, CA 2004
Funded Residency, Center for Land Use Interpretation, Wendover, UT 2003
Full Fellowship Recipient, Vermont Studio Center,Johnson,VT 2003
Shows and exhibitions
Trans-species Repast, UNM Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM 2016
Trans-species Repast, Landmark, Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2015
Trans-species Repast, LandShape, LandShape Symposium, North Jutland, DK 2015
Algaeic Infrastructure, Transport, Albuquerque Balloon Museum, Albuquerque, NM 2015
Trans-species Repast, Home ECOnomics, Wignall Museum, Rancho Cucamunga, CA 2014
Algaeic Infrastructure, High Desert Test Site, Montessa Park, Albuquerque, NM, 2013
Reflection, The Artists’ View, Santa Fe Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM 2013
At the Same Table, The Artists’ View, Highland University Art Gallery, Las Vegas, NM 2013
Waterline, Storefront Lab, Deep Craft, San Francisco, CA 2012
Circumnavigation, Transformative Surfaces, UNM Art Museum Albuquerque, NM 2012
Eden Again, ISEA Machine Wilderness, Downtown Action Team Space, Albuquerque, NM 2012
Maquette, Seed Table, Matters Show,The Bakery Collective, Los Angeles, CA 2011
Dipodemys merramai, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, NM 2011