DAY 2 - Tuning In

Day 2, August 2nd, we all piled into the cars and headed up to Bordeiro, the site of our work for the next two weeks. As our first time all together in the space, our day began with a tuning-in movement session in the black room. We listened with all our senses to the sounds and feelings of the town, the building, the room, and finally, ourselves. Lying on the floor, we used subtle movements, breath awareness, and humming, to connect, focus, and center ourselves for the day.

After breakfast, Filipe and Beatriz led us in a morning of group activities to help us get to know each other, including a deep listening and a deep looking session. Reflecting together on those experiences, some themes already began to emerge, particularly around life and death. Then Filipe and Beatriz led us out of the building and down on a walk into Bordeiro. Our assignment was to have a conversation with at least three other people about their practice. We had to turn back before finishing because the heat was quickly becoming punishing. However, even in that short period of time, the conversations had started to get our brain juices flowing. How did we approach making? Why did we choose our particular art form? Where did we feel our strengths as artists lay?

Returning to the shelter of the school, we took a few moments to meditate on what had brought us to Gois and what we wanted to get of our time here. We then went around the circle stating a personal intention for our time here. It was moving, if not a little humbling, to hear everyone's honest and open responses.

After lunch we gathered for our 2pm, day 2 happening - a group drawing! It was a cross between free drawing and puzzle making, a really great start to the pairings-created happenings. And then! We broke into speed dating groups! With the brief to make something responding to the mornings reflections and inspirations in only one hour, everyone set off in their pairs. We came back at the end of the day to share the results of the creative dates. It continues to surprise me, as I'm sure it did everyone, how much can be created with a deadline, haha! It was a great way to learn more about each other, to see how we worked, and to open up a spirit of play. Many of the pieces shown today will probably be left behind, but some of the ideas explored may become seeds for bigger works over the course of the next 10 days!

Did we really do so much in just one day?!