Guapamacátaro - Interdisciplinary Residency in Art and Ecology

2007 : place and community

Starting off with artist presentations, a lecture in Mexican History/Culture, and a field talk on Ecology and Sustainable Development in Mexico, the group was quickly immersed in the particularities of the place and each other, developing an acute awareness for community, both surrounding and their own. Activities such as workshops, studio visits, screenings, performances and exhibitions were organized and involved local people of all ages.

Three inter-related workshops were imparted to teenagers through a partnership with the local youth group IMJU (Instituto Michoacano de la Juventud). The workshops were in Ethnographic Research Methods (taught by Gaelyn Aguilar), Creative Music (taught by Gustavo Aguilar) and Reading and Writing (taught by Laura Silva). In addition, Laura Silva also conducted reading, dancing and relaxation sessions with local women.

Through town hearings, fieldtrips and experiential research, two main ecological problems were identified: Ojo de Agua, a once thriving spring water reservoir currently in danger of drying up due to overgrown non-native lily vegetation; and the obsolete infrastructure at the hacienda (water supply, wastewater and garbage management, electric power, etc). Initiatives were taken to address both problems, and bonds with local representatives were made to begin a comprehensive plan for regeneration and sustainability of both systems.

These findings were incorporated by the artists in several individual and collaborative works, which were exhibited on the last Saturday of the residency at the Open House, a very well attended event.

A R T I S T S :

Gaelyn Aguilar (NEW YORK) : social anthropology/film/video

Gustavo Aguilar (NEW YORK) : music
www.gustavoaguilar.com

Rebecca Bryant (SPRINGFIELD, MO) : dance/performance
www.pmpd.org

Hope Hall (NEW YORK) : film/video
www.hopehall.com

Aimee Lee (NEW YORK) : installation/performance/music
www.aimeelee.net

Don Nichols (SPRINGFIELD, MO) : music
www.pmpd.org

Kristin Norderval (NEW YORK) : music
www.norderval.org

Elizabeth Ross (MORELIA, MEXICO) : visual arts/installation/performance
www.elizabethrossmx.com

Markus Shimizu (GERMANY) : installation/photography
www.markus-shimizu.com

Jill Sigman (NEW YORK) : performance
www.thinkdance.org

Laura Silva Cervantes (OAXACA, MEXICO) : dance/literature

Andrew West (LOS ANGELES) : painting
www.cadmiumgreen.com

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N :
Alicia Marván, Director
Elizabeth Ross, Production Coordinator in Mexico
Rocio Guerrero, Development Associate
Alisa Cooper de Uribe, Development Assistant
Andrea Marván, Development Assistant
Sofia Zetina Gargollo, Development Assistant

C O N S U L T A N T S :
Blaire Dessent (Planning)
Miguel Zaldivar (Mexican History and Culture)
Randall Coffie Goedhoop (Ecology and Sustainable Development in Mexico)

C O O K S :
Bertha Vargas Uribe
Beatriz Dominguez Rodriguez
Cherity Foat (Guest Chef)
Jeannine Bock