Student and Alumni Sketch Crawl brings MSU Landscape Architecture community together
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EmailThe Sketch Crawl kicked-off a series of impactful events hosted by MSU’s Landscape Architecture program on October 2.
On October 2, the Landscape Architecture (LA) Program in the School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) hosted its 3rd Student and Alumni Sketch Crawl.
Led by alumnus Robert (Bob) Chipman (’81, Landscape Architecture) and Chip Sullivan, the Sketch Crawl has quickly become a beloved tradition for LA students and alumni. After lunch and time spent getting to know each other, the group sketched their way through MSU’s campus for a few hours before returning to the Human Ecology Building.
“Having Chip Sullivan from UC Berkeley join us this year was really special. As ‘The Original Landscape Cartoonist’ he brings so much creative thought to the world of observational sketching,” Chipman said. “We feel it is such a good chance to engage students with the practicing world and encourage freehand drawing at the same time, not to mention have a whole lot of fun in the process. It has become an annual tradition now, and we on the LA Alumni and Advisory Board (LAAAB) hope to keep it going for years to come.”
See the full Sketch Crawl photo gallery here.
The Sketch Crawl was a core part of the fall events hosted by the LAAAB, including classroom lectures by Chipman and ‘Mel Vargas (’83, Landscape Architecture) and finishing with the 2025 Fall Distinguished Speaker Series in the Union Ballroom. The Distinguished Speaker Series featured a panel discussion with alumni Mark Hershberger (’82, Landscape Architecture), Dan Lord (’00, Landscape Architecture) and Dan Wenk (’75, Landscape Architecture) talking about public land access and design.
Participants in the Sketch Crawl used custom accordion sketchbooks designed by Bob Chipman and assembled the evening before by the students, with guidance provided by Chipman and Sullivan. Artwork created during the event was showcased at the evening gathering for attendees to enjoy. At the conclusion of the events, the sketchbooks were returned to their creators.
“The Sketch Crawl provides a fantastic opportunity for students to relax and explore their artistic side on MSU's beautiful campus,” said Grace Densham, a 5th year student in the LA bachelor’s program and a 2nd year in the environmental design master’s program. “Spirits were high, and sketches exuded creativity thanks to our spectacular alumnus, Bob Chipman, and the wildly skilled Chip Sullivan."
LA undergraduate student Joshua Kuhowski said he has used the annual Sketch Crawl to expand his artistic skills and network with program alumni. “It has been an incredible experience in the last few years to grow as an artist and as a young professional with the aid of these professional practice days,” said Kuhowski. “The alumni that I have connected with have become pillars of inspiration and examples of success from directly within our community.”
Christopher Nosek, a dual degree student in the LA bachelor’s program and the environmental design master’s program, said he particularly enjoyed this year’s event thanks to the contributions of Chip Sullivan. “This year, being guided by Chip, I was able to experience sketching the campus with a new lens. Chip is so creative when it comes to envisioning landscapes. His prompts not only pushed us to capture the environment but also to see beyond what was in front of us, an essential skill to have when designing."
"Bob’s dedication and support to our LA program is unmatched. For our students, Bob has been a regular and generous alumnus offering guest lectures, participating in design project reviews and sharing valuable professional insight with our students," said SPDC Director and Professor Jun-Hyun Kim, Ph.D., ASLA.
"Bob’s influence extends far beyond campus. Among his most notable contributions is his leadership in graphic education and outreach. After co-founding the nationally recognized Sketch Crawl Sessions at the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) National Conference, Bob brought this initiative back to the MSU community. His ability to connect national-level programming with our students and program is an outstanding example of his impact demonstrating how he bridges practice and education with energy and purpose.
The Sketch Walk reflects the close-knit community and collaborative spirit that defines the LA program. Since its founding in 1898, the program has blended ideology, design, technology, art and science to shape a more resilient world. In 2011, Chipman helped establish the Landscape Architecture Alumni and Advisory Board, a group dedicated to promoting the program, mentoring students and ensuring it maintains national accreditation.
Chipman has remained actively involved with the board since its inception, championing efforts to build relationships between students, alumni and friends. In addition to his board service, Chipman has generously supported the program through his philanthropic giving. He established Landscape Architecture Innovation Fund, an endowment that supports experiential learning, scholarships and more for LA students.
About the MSU Landscape Architecture Program: Housed within the School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC), the MSU LA Program is proud to note that more than 90% of our graduates are placed in the job market within seven months of graduation. Faculty blend teaching, research and engagement to build new knowledge and advance the LA profession. The curriculum prepares students to be responsible landscape architects and fulfilled individuals with a breadth and depth of professional knowledge, bridged with the employability skills to advance in practice. Learn more here.
To explore additional ways to support the LA Innovation Fund and the Landscape Architecture Program, please contact Brittany Lawrence at mill2849@msu.edu.
Photo credits: Andrew Orlando, Communications Coordinator, School of Planning, Design and Construction
