Wisdom of Place
A virtual book talk with authors Elizabeth Boults and Chip Sullivan
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Participants will receive a Zoom link via email the week before the event
Drawn from the union of art, nature, and metaphysics, the book Wisdom of Place presents some of the myths and legends of antiquity as they might be recognized by contemporary earth-shapers. Co-authors and teachers Chip and Elizabeth explore the meaning and symbolism of nature-based beliefs and their expression as a landscape vocabulary, shedding light on the ecological imperatives of our time.
The book artfully pairs spiritualism with environmentalism, leading the reader to find inspiration in the everyday landscapes around us. Their goal is to promote consciousness of our human connection to the spiritual forces of the earth. As landscape architects and artists, they believe that how people value the earth is critical to the creation of a new, more sustainable, design ethos. The book is accompanied by the Oracle Box, a tarot deck and guidebook, that "offers a captivating fusion of artistic expression, ecological awareness, and spiritual exploration."
The presentation will be followed by an opportunity for a Q&A with Chip and Elizabeth, moderated by landscape architect Laurie Matthews.
To learn more about the authors, or to order a copy of the book, Wisdom of Place, or the Oracle Box, visit: https://www.thewisdomofplace.com/
Speakers
Chip Sullivan is an artist and professor emeritus of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at 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 Accredited Professional who maintains a landscape design practice founded on promoting environmental consciousness and ecological narratives. She is senior lecturer in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at University of California, Davis.
Together they have co-authored Illustrated History of Landscape Design (Wiley, 2010), Wisdom of Place: A Guide to Recovering the Sacred Origins of Landscape (ORO Editions, 2024), as well as Wisdom of Place: Elements of Sacred Landscapes oracle deck (ORO Editions, 2025).
Moderator
Laurie Matthews is a landscape historian, artist, educator, and nationally recognized leader in cultural landscape preservation. Through her work, she explores the intersection of place, history, culture, and spirit, revealing how landscapes embody our collective stories and shape our understanding of the world. She believes that landscapes are living records of human experience—places where memory, ecology, and culture converge—and invites others to discover the stories they hold. Her current research examines archetypal landscape forms found in myth and folklore, and animistic and pantheistic traditions associated with features such as sacred springs. She serves as Director of Preservation Planning + Design and the Cultural Places Studio at MIG and teaches at the University of Oregon's College of Design. She holds a BLA and MLA from the University of Oregon and a BA in Art from Lewis & Clark College. Laurie is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
All graphics provided by presenters.
