Roberto Fantauzzi Thesis Topics

External Contacts:

Guy Winch, PHD: working clinical psychologist in New York and author of upcoming book "The Squeaky Wheel"

• Psychological effects of a person who has suffered from abuse.
• Learning about steps towards overcoming psychological pain/scars.
• Guidance towards emotional betterment.

Evan Imber-Black: psychologist and author of "Rituals in Families and Family Therapy"

• How the exchange (giving and receiving) or use of symbolic items as a function to access feelings caused by being abused.
• What objects usually work better and how are these used

Glen Barnard: social worker at NYU

• Insight in how young adults are affected by years of repressed feelings due to scars caused by being abused as children

New York Restoration Project (http://www.nyrp.org/):

• Information on how people are affected emotionally (positively and negatively) by restoring, revitalizing and developing under-resourced parks and community gardens throughout NYC.
• Insight into the process of how NYRP “engage and encourage the public to take pride in and responsibility for the care and maintenance of green spaces in their neighborhoods and citywide”.

John Ryan Martine: NYC One Million Trees City Planner/Government Agent (http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/html/home/home.shtml)

• Strategies with regards to reaching inner city neighborhoods affected and how green spaces affect the community in an emotional, financial and spiritual level.

The Edible Schoolyard (http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/):

• As some of the goals reaching children is to create “connectedness to land, school and community” and “environmental and personal impact of food choices.” - in reference to emotional and psychological growth.

The Horticultural Society of New York (http://www.hsny.org/):

• Mission: To provide the people of New York with unique services grounded in the vitality of horticulture.
• Knowledge in casting a product using plant seeds

The New York Botanical Garden (http://www.nybg.org/):

• Knowledge and expertise in “botany, soil sciences, landscape design and plant propagation” with regards to creating and casting products made plant and vegetable seeds.

Flower Power Foundation (http://www.flowerpowerfoundation.org/):

• Mission: Since 1993 the organization has “collected over $2,500,000 of donated flowers, re-assembled and given them to those who rarely receive such gifts of hope.”
• Knowledge in how does one give home through objects and impact of that exchange.
• Insight if that exchange is enhanced by the fact that the objects are re-appropriated products.

New York Waste Exchange (http://www.wastematch.org/):

• Mission: is to foster environmentally sound economic development through innovative waste reduction and resource recovery strategies by merging environmental responsibility with sound business practices.
• Insight into the psychological impact of creating such system for all parties involved.

Materials for the Arts (http://www.mfta.org/):

• Mission: Materials are gathered from companies and individuals that no longer need them and redistributed to the artists and educators that do. In the process, hundreds of tons are removed from the waste stream every year and kept out of landfills, helping to sustain our environment and promote reuse and waste reduction.
• Insight into the psychological impact of creating such system for all parties involved.