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--- transiency_rasa_alksnyte [2016-10-13 13:05] – rasa
+++ transiency_rasa_alksnyte [2016-11-07 10:54] – rasa
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 This page is the informal log of my transiency process, in reverse chronological order.
--9 October
+October - 6 November
+Oh Mollenbeek!
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+This week i was truly inspired. By something very simple and very human. I was giving two workshops, two days in the Castle of Kareveld followed by three days more conventional sessions for toddlers near Tour&Taxis. Due to a unexpectedly busy schedule i was looking for the ways to cancel it. Thinking that it will tire me out and i wont be able to accomplish all i want to do this month. It did tire me out and i had lots of pain (mainly to some bizarre shoe accident) but i also observed something very beautiful.
+First workshop was a walk-in activity were everyone just could pass by and do some simple paintings using pancake dough and old colourful spices. It was a great success. Pieter and I ended up with a logistic problem to accommodate everyone willing to sit at our table. Some kids didn't want to move and made one painting after the other. On the second day also the fathers joined in. It is so great to see adults playing with such simple stuff and having fun.
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+Second workshop was designed for very young kids (2,5-5 years) to explore sensory perception. We played with flour and soap, cooked pasta and soup, made birds out of green dough, danced, roared like animals and so much more. The group was both french and dutch speaking. So total mess you could say. But i had the most wonderful assistant. A young muslim boy (about 17 years old) that helped not only by translating but cared with so much love and commitment for the little ones and me that at some times i even questioned why do i get paid for this and not him? There was also two other young muslim boys assisting the workshop next door and them too were so unbelievably familiar, relaxed, sweet, caring, funny and so on...I was truly touched by them. Except for Jura i never experienced such a devoted assistance from the youngsters. It breaks all the stereotypes that even i had.
+After Brussels attacks last spring there was so much talks about how such terror acts are attacks on the western values. But seeing these boys and other muslim women working so passionately with local youth i think exactly this community and its values got attacked and hurt much more. People that are constantly busy with making sure there are no walls between languages, ethnicity, religion, economical status and just quietly building bridges between all these families living in the same area. I'm very happy and honoured i could do a little thing among them as wel. I always felt that due to my limited knowing of french i miss out on this direct interaction with such groups. Well now they speak dutch and english. So about the time i make more effort to learn french as well...
+- 30 October
+Before leaving to Bergen i spend a few days at home with my mother. Weather was good, light magical, colours precious. Mothers visits are becoming more frequent and everyone enjoys to have her around. I can have more quiet time to prepare for the travel without any stress. And even read a book.
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+Bergen  is a city where the rain is being made... It is a beautiful place but the rain!!!! Even my raincoat gave up after a day and a half and i ended up soaking wet constantly... Working with Eisa on "Host" is now a lot more relaxing. The piece holds it self. And Eisa is finding more and more freedom to perform. What an amazing artist that pushes her self to the limits every single time.
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+Reading R.Solmnit "A field guide to getting lost". It is a good book to read in the unknown city. I could quote almost every second page. So many nice things written in a honest and personal way.
+- 23 October
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+days in the row of space rental. This time in completely different setting. First of all we had a full house. Two guests in the tower, 30 people in the space, catering group in the kitchen, Ingrid having some of her meetings at FoAM, Jura coming and going with the bunch of her friends. It was buzzing... I kept an close eye on everyone to monitor the levels of happiness. Even with so many people and activities in space it is possible to work on different things at the same time. I've noticed that the good communication is vital. Every morning or evening i would inform everyone on what is happening where and what is there to be expected.
+In the second place this time the hosting of the space most of the days i shared with our amazing Jura and with helping hand of Ingrid. This setting and not having to cook made a huge differents. I had no back pain and could read a book quietly during the time in the studio. However on the days that the tasks where not shared i could not concentrate on anything more serious. Constantly keeping an eye on the guests is sometimes very boring and tiring.
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+This year i'm most visible person at FoAM studio. Therefor many demands and proposals comes directly to me. People get very surprised when i refuse to do something. Trying to explain what Doing Nothing means for us and why are we doing it is not easy. Mostly after the conversation they are convinced that what they are doing is very much related to what we are (not)doing and i must do something to collaborate in one or other way on their project too. When i explain that i might but not now because i'm also in transiency and will concentrate only on the activities that are related to that. They still don't understand why i wouldn't i answer their questionairs, come to their meetings and so on... I think doing nothing or lying fallow needs as much discipline ( or even more) as doing something. It is very easy to give in and loos track of what is important.
+- 16 October
+"How charming it would be if it were possible to cause these natural images to imprint themselves durably, and remain fixed on paper." W.H. Fox Talbot
+I'm reading about the times of invention of photography. Many individuals where in search for similar things and many of them where driven by a similar frustration of not being (good enough) drawers or painters to portray their surroundings.
+The first printed picture was referred as "the first known instance of a house painting its own portrait".
+I guess this year i'm driven by the similar force too. But instead of trying to portray natural accuracy i'm going for a total blend. I'm searching for pictures to achieve painting qualities by using textures and colours of the various films and clarity of the lens. The idea of letting the surroundings paint its own picture sounds very appealing to me at this time. Especially because i spend so much time in particular surrounding such as my house, garden, train and FoAM studio. The same objects, plants and people appears in my photos regularly. I'm not entirely happy with the results yet. But i like to work with the timing and movement that makes the scenery blend in colours and shadows. Somehow to me it associates with breathing patterns. Or maybe it is just a stepping stone for finally picking up the paintbrush... In any case i'm so grateful to have time to investigate it and try out all this.
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+I also want to experiment a lot more with the idea of a portrait. Reading about old methods where in order to be photographed a person had to paint it self white, sit for at least 15-30 min in the same position and put up with different lamps facing you gives me some ideas. It sounds like an cleansing ritual followed by a meditation. I'm preparing a series of workshop for young autistic people under the theme of self-portrait. While now the self portrait associates so much with an instant selfie i would like to try doing it the old way  but using more up to date equipment and see what the result of that would be and what impact it would have on the person sitting for it.
+- 9 October
 Looking at the calendar this week was the last more empty week before the intensive period will start. There are lots of upcoming rentals and a few travels on the horizon. Therefor i concentrated on being at home and spoiling the family. I set the challenge for my self to only cook things that i never cooked before. What a fun! Even  the week is a very short time frame for such things the experiments in the kitchen sparked many conversations and laughter. We all agreed that by the end of the week we will take a vote for what can be made again, what has to be improved or never made again. The clear winner of the experiment was sweet potatoes stuffed with chickpeas. I promise to post the recipe when i'll improve it till perfection and have time to take pictures of it.
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 For the first time i've visited Geel and met the group of people that i want to do a project with. It is a group of young adults with autism and natuur punt. What a calm energy! So much fragility and honesty in the eyes. We talked very little. Just walked in the park looking at the butterflies and frogs and listening to information about the specific nature needs. After that we had a cake and talked about what we are good at and what we have difficulties with. It has been so long that i wanted to work with group like this. Lets see how the project will develop and will they get enough funds to support it but i'm sure i want to do something with them.
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 Also this week we had visitors Filastine and Nova. It felt like a residency. The FoAM studio got turned into the rehearsal space for their performance. We even had a chance to sit trough their general rehearsal before the concert in Liege. Nice experience. Felt like a wonderful FoAM thing. The week got finalised with FoAM Apero. It has been so long since last one. I really miss it...
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