My last week in Lima was spent in a flurry of events—a final exhibit, a film screening, many farewells. As I sit writing this post in North Carolina, I feel deeply attuned to the strangeness of time and space. How is it that I was just there, and now I’m here?
I feel tremendously fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from other ways of being, thinking, and making a life. It has been a joy to share in the imaginations and stories of the young people, and their families, I’ve come to know.
I feel tremendously fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from other ways of being, thinking, and making a life. It has been a joy to share in the imaginations and stories of the young people, and their families, I’ve come to know.
A few (of my own) farewell images of Cantagallo (above) and 12 de Junio (below)
These past 10 months I have worked to convey in this blog what is so often indescribable—a process; an experiment; a series of encounters. The process has been just as important as the final products—young people seeing themselves as investigators, highlighting their community’s strengths, facilitating new ways of seeing for the people around them.
It was especially thrilling to watch the young photographers and filmmakers present their work to their families, and the other audience members who came to the events.
Sunday was the inauguration of the photo exhibit Being and Wellbeing, the product of my collaboration with Lauren in the community 12 de Junio. The exhibit, co-curated by the girls who participated in the workshops, was an exploration of the community through self and family portraits, and an investigation of community health issues. In the curation process, the girls wrote captions for their photos, explaining stories behind them, as well as imagining solutions for the problems they discovered through their photographic inquiries.
It was especially thrilling to watch the young photographers and filmmakers present their work to their families, and the other audience members who came to the events.
Sunday was the inauguration of the photo exhibit Being and Wellbeing, the product of my collaboration with Lauren in the community 12 de Junio. The exhibit, co-curated by the girls who participated in the workshops, was an exploration of the community through self and family portraits, and an investigation of community health issues. In the curation process, the girls wrote captions for their photos, explaining stories behind them, as well as imagining solutions for the problems they discovered through their photographic inquiries.
Thursday night was the screening of the film made by Karoly, Tony and Christy in Cantagallo, which they decided to title Un Pedacito de la Selva en la Ciudad--"A Little Piece of the Jungle in the City". Tony and Karoly were able to attend, and spoke so eloquently about their experiences, and the choices they made in constructing their film. The final film wove together their community's history, their own families' stories, reflections on the differences between the jungle and the city, and the pride they feel about their unique cultural heritage.
The textures of places, the warmth of individuals, the inevitable messiness of a process of teaching and learning from others...these things made the last 10 months a joyful experience. I am proud and honored to share pieces of these final products with you here.
Over the next few months, I'll be working to create virtual versions of the complete projects, which I'll look forward to sharing.
Over the next few months, I'll be working to create virtual versions of the complete projects, which I'll look forward to sharing.
Being and Wellbeing
(images and exhibition text)
Un Pedacito de la Selva en la Ciudad
(video stills and quotes from the film)
"And I want people to see that… For them not to give us that look that they do sometimes that makes us feel bad. Sometimes bad, sometimes sad. Because we feel that people see us as “poor people.” Yeah, well, maybe we’re not high class… We lack a lot, but we don’t want to be called “pobrecitos”—poor little things."" |
Supposedly we are all equal. You, me, everyone else. All people are human. And what’s the difference between her and me? That she has more money? Or that she’s happer than I am? No. Everyone, everyday… In the day to day, people don’t see us when we’re happy. Or in an interview or documentary about Cantagallo, it’s always…like I saw in a video about Cantagallo, they said “facades of houses.” Please, don’t say that. They’re not facades, they’re houses built by our own hands, by our parents because we helped them. And then to use those words and call them that…no.
We want people to value our culture."
We want people to value our culture."