Dr. Carl. D. Duncan (1895-1966), former SJSU professor and chairman of the National Science Department, began his career at San Jose State College in 1922. During his tenure he mentored many students, and between the years 1964-1966, he mentored Patricia Carpio (Whiting), a student in the Humanities & Art. Whiting worked for Dr. Duncan, who served as the secretary of the Field Studies program at that time. Whiting went on to become the first Filipino woman elected to the Oregon State Legislature, serving three terms from 1972-1978, and a community activist and beloved leader. Duncan and Whiting maintained a long-term friendship that lasted until his death in 1966. Patricia Whiting died at age 69 on July 1, 2010 of cancer. She is survived by her husband Vincent Whiting.
24691 Esthetic Aspects of the Desert, An Outline By Carl D. Duncan, Chairman, Division of Natural Sciences San Jose State College-1952 Revised - Fall, 1964 Imagery Shortage of water - drying winds forbidding wastes of sand and rocks. Also strange appeal - lure - spell - charm - fascination - strange hold on men's hearts and minds and souls. What constitutes this appeal? Form, line, proportion - masses Line reveals and expresses form. Line is the fundamental basis on which all beauty of form rests Lines of an automobile, plane, racing yacht, horse, bird, well- proportioned human form, a suit of clothes, or a frock. If lines are not good no embellishment can conceal the lack of beauty of form in anything. Line and form revealed in the desert are the resultants of economical and harmonious resolution of the natural forces that shape the desert: wind,water, sunshine, erosion and deposition, and crustal movements. Harmonious resolution of forces results in beauty of line and form and no beauty of form exists without it. Symmetry of valleys, basins fans, mountains, trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. Symmetry of individual plants results from, their isolation and spacing that permits them to respond equally to stimuli from all directions. Balance Mass against mass - area against area - form against form. Vast areas of gentle sweeping contour are relieved by small masses which are the remnants of mountains. Agreeable proportions exist in most features of desert landscapes. Gently concave surfaces of alluvial fans provide the long, sweeping, restful profiles of most gentle slopes that reach out from bordering mountains to meet in the inter- vening valleys and basins. Landscape in the nude. Color - delicate to flamboyant Color schemes are pleasing if there is a blend of scaled hues or harmonious or satisfying contrasts. True in clothes, houses, boats, public buildings, paintings, etc. The desert has both scaled hues and contrasts. Wide range of hues in both related series and contrasts. All harmonized by tempering effects of sun and atmosphere. all pastelled, grayed, approximated in intensities and values. Only striking contrasts are in green of new foliage of mesquite, creosote bush and other plants. Green is restful color. Brilliant colorinig of individual flowers and masses of flowers. These are always keyed to and harmonious with the foliage of the plants that bear them and the colors of soil and rocks that constitute the setting in which the flowers bloom. Sunset and sunrise flamboyance Sunset colors suffuse and are reflected from the mountains and valley slopes. Sunset colors are picked up and enriched by atmospheric haze. Complements of sunset colors are given out in shadows. Rhythmic repetition . Succession of mountain beyond mountain regularly weakened,by haze give both rhythm and scaled hues and intensity vaiues. Succession of dunes and alluvial fans. Spaced trees and shrubs marching up alluvial fans or into the distance are highly rhythmic and satisfying. Suggestion of movement Long gently curving slopes Leading one into another Leading on and on and on Lost in distance and back again Gradual reduction in apparent , size of similar objects with increasing distance. The element of "vanishing point perspective." ' Sense of Completeness Wholeness - belongingness of interrelation All encompassing Comparable to viewing the heavens at night Grandeur, serenity, repose greets one in every direction Something humbling, ennobling, satisfying results from the realization of one's place in natural setting In recognition of fact that man must bend with and adjust to the elements but that he can trust the elements if he so does. In some measure -- all who spend considerable time in the desert and look beyond themselves sense these things, even when they know not what they are sensing. All feel the esthetic appeal of the desert.
