I am part of a group of artists called 'Roots' and we all live in the Matarranya, a beautiful small county in Northeastern Spain. Please bear with me those of you who already knew that, I thought I'd go briefly through the details again for the artists that are newer to this blog.
We are a group of 26 and there are painters, sculptors, photographers, textil artists and mixted-media artists among us. We met last Wednesday in one of our (almost) monthly gatherings and the 'flags for peace' project was one of the issues on our agenda.
We met in a lovely place called 'Mas Marianets', a country house that also has space for exhibitions, workshops, etc. I felt like sharing some photos of our meeting with you, so you can be part of our gathering.
It's not always easy for 26 artists to commit themselves to one project, there are so many things that can get in the way: jobs, family, summer holidays, previous engagements... So, for the time being, only 10 of us have confirmed that we will fly our peace flags in September. We will hold a special meeting on the subject on 27 July and then I'll be back with more news and specific details.
Some of us will work with fabrics, others with paper and one sculptor is bent on creating an iron flag! Mary Jane, I hope we won't put your patience to the test!
The main thing that still has to be decided is whether we will fly our flags individually (I am really looking forward to watching an iron flag fly ;) or as a group. The idea would be to join all our individual creations in a larger compound and set it out in a public space, where it would remain till the weather - and some art-loving by-passers - takes its toll on it.
I like the idea of a very large 'flag' that would be the sum of ten different parts. Peace will bring them together and their togetherness will strengthen the idea of peace.
The other important thing still to be determined is where the flag/flags will go. There were many lovely suggestions on this: 1. On a by-road skirting a forest. 2. On the shore of a nearby lake. 3. On a famous local mountaintop! (I think this one won't do at all. Not if people have to walk up steep mountain trails to find out what the heck that distant huge banner of sorts is.) 4. In the main squares of the villages in the county. This one is my favourite. It would be like an itinerant exhibition of our flags and it would also be a great way for the Town Halls to get involved in the project.
I am sorry I cannot show you any actual flags yet but we'll get there. We intend to have them ready by the first week of September. And we're sure to get the local media's attention too, on the project and on this blog.
I hope you have enjoyed the tour around Mas Marianets. I wish we could all meet in a workshop there sometime!
What a wonderful thing to be part of such a group of creative people and actually being able to meet up regularly in person! Looking forward to seeing your flags.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Belonging in a group is very inspiring and makes many things easier than when you go it alone. I must get starting on my flag soon, hope to see yours too.
Deletethis is really just so unbelievably wonderful! all of the different people, the way they are coming together for the project and their individual ideas of how to bring the intention to life -
ReplyDeletei am so moved by it all...
thank you for this beautiful post, ersi -
I am really having a great time with the preparations :) One of our members that still has to confirm her participation is a textile artist and I do hope she will join us in the project. It is all progressing wonderfully!
DeleteA wonderful addition to the project, so many artists, cool!! And the house is inspiring, too!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could invite you all to come visit and get to know us. I have my eye on that house for future activities!
DeleteTen more artists making peace flags...wow! And in Spain. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI've yet to ask, but which countries are represented here? US, Australia and Spain, I know. Are there others?
Hello Jennifer! I really don't know, Mary Jane probably knows better. Is there nobody from Great Britain here? That would be surprising.
DeleteHi J - I think Lesley in Wales has done some indigo flags but is just following the blog not posting to it...and I know Luthien is in Malaysia..so the ripples are spreading. I think Stregata is in Germany? Quite the joining up of hands across the globe!
DeleteE- what power - brining the peace vibes of so many together in so many forms - what a ripple. And your post just makes me want to visit and meet such a wonderful group and check out your artistic haunts. So the peace ripple grows and flows across the globe. Great. B
ReplyDeleteHi, Barry! You are most welcome to our little corner of the wide world. I'm sure you'd love the place and that you'd find lots of inspiration. 'Artistic haunts' is probably more accurate, given the number of monuments and villages from the Middle Ages in the area :)
DeleteOh Ersi - this is so beautiful and wonderful. I love that group and the gathering and the collective focus on peace; and I love the many beautiful buildings you get to play in! Wouldn't it be magic to get together some time and make flags for peace together!
ReplyDeleteFiona, that would be a dream come true! Maybe we could try to plan a gathering like that. I know there are many obstacles in the way but it would be magic indeed if we managed it!
DeleteWhat a wonderful place! Wish that I visit in person...thank you so much for the photos.
ReplyDelete