...and ye cannae do a project about borders without some border control panic. I woke up at 6.30am on Sunday with a text from Sarah saying we had had a problem with immigration in Sao Paulo. Twelve hours later, I was still in my pjs, had not moved away from the laptop, had involved about 50 people across at least 4 cities (including Brasilia and Montevideo) and a consulate in this situation, and had added a considerable amount to my mum's phone bill. After a really stressful day, however, we got it all sorted out and the group is now almost complete - we are just waiting for Eli who had a previously arranged appointment in Spain and will be joining us on Friday.
The travellers were all still a bit tired from their journey(s) but they bravely ploughed through the first two days of walking around and being exposed to a shitload of information. Our local collaborator Vera Reis from Corticeira's Tour took us on especially tailored walking tours of Livramento and Rivera and provided us with a really good historical background to the area, pointed out important buildings and landmarks and gave the visiting artists an excellent first insight into the life and culture of this place.
We've also had our few minutes of fame already. We were interviewed by Channel 10 TV from Rivera and by RCC FM from Livramento, and had a very good turnout at our opening ceremony last night. Representatives of local schools, NGOs and Writers' Associations of both countries were present and everyone was so warm and welcoming and really proud of receiving such a diverse group and an interesting project in their towns.
The group are now on their first field activity, first time they've been sent out without me or a guide. I've called this first task "Border Iconography". Essentially, they've been given a few hours to revisit places they've already seen and take their time to explore things that caught their attention and start constructing their own 'border aesthetics' by collating visual material that inspire them from these places. We are due to meet again in about one hour to discuss what they have found and then we will watch the film Netto Perde Sua Alma, which is about the history of these parts before they became known as 'the peaceful border'.
I'm looking forward to seeing what they will come back with after this first non-guided exploration, and then discussing one of the most important battles in our history with the group and a couple of local teachers. We will tell you all about it later. :)
The travellers were all still a bit tired from their journey(s) but they bravely ploughed through the first two days of walking around and being exposed to a shitload of information. Our local collaborator Vera Reis from Corticeira's Tour took us on especially tailored walking tours of Livramento and Rivera and provided us with a really good historical background to the area, pointed out important buildings and landmarks and gave the visiting artists an excellent first insight into the life and culture of this place.
We've also had our few minutes of fame already. We were interviewed by Channel 10 TV from Rivera and by RCC FM from Livramento, and had a very good turnout at our opening ceremony last night. Representatives of local schools, NGOs and Writers' Associations of both countries were present and everyone was so warm and welcoming and really proud of receiving such a diverse group and an interesting project in their towns.
The group are now on their first field activity, first time they've been sent out without me or a guide. I've called this first task "Border Iconography". Essentially, they've been given a few hours to revisit places they've already seen and take their time to explore things that caught their attention and start constructing their own 'border aesthetics' by collating visual material that inspire them from these places. We are due to meet again in about one hour to discuss what they have found and then we will watch the film Netto Perde Sua Alma, which is about the history of these parts before they became known as 'the peaceful border'.
I'm looking forward to seeing what they will come back with after this first non-guided exploration, and then discussing one of the most important battles in our history with the group and a couple of local teachers. We will tell you all about it later. :)
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