FoRest Artistic Research Residency. January 2 to 7. Gran Canaria.

Welcome to the 3th edition of Fo.R.est

An International interdisciplinary, sensitive and conscious experience within a forest landscape, guided by Javier Murugarren in collaboration with Lesley Bohncke.

From 2nd to 7th January, 2024 // Los Tilos de Moya, Gran Canaria

Natural Reserve of the Original Laurisilva Forest

Dear friends, it fills us with joy to invite you to the third edition of Fo.R.est, which will take place from January 2 to 7, 2024

In the nature reserve of Los Tilos de Moya, cradle of the last original Laurisilva forest of the island of Gran Canaria and base of operations of Adarve Medioambiente; visionary company in the care of Mother Earth and with whom we continue to carry out this essential collaboration. Our homebase will be a large country house in a unique isolated property and the surrounding 8000m2 private forest located in the last remaining original remnant of Laurisilva in the North of the island of Gran Canaria.

We are honored to invite you to enter a space of self discovery, shared knowledge, conceptual and experiential understanding. A place where nature protects us from noise, fear and doubts; providing us with a deep relaxation and revealing the essential being from where to begin an integral creative process.

In times of acceleration and information saturation; mother nature provides us with vital knowledge to face the great challenges that the soul faces in today's life. A dimension where to initiate the return to essential learning, care and listening.

This laboratory invites participants to enter into a process of exploration and creation within a collective experience; offering a program that empowers an intuitive connection with movement, nature, materials and narratives. The visual work will use natural materials and brought and found objects as a starting point to develop physical, visual and dialectical investigations. Participants will work individually and in groups to generate studies and presentations; compositions in text, movement and visual languages within a natural environment. Dialogue will be central to the process.

In addition to the materials we will collect from nature, we will provide local raw wool as an invitation to explore and experiment in the manufacturing of garments/objects/spaces. We will immerse ourselves in its transformational processes and connect with the animal, ancestral and cultural qualities of the material to incorporate it into the creative process. Through learning the basic techniques of felting and cleaning we will open up a multitude of possibilities of manifestation.

Themes/goals:

-Materials/objects/study: Touching, manipulating, constructing, connecting, embodying,

-Dress/dance/materialize: Incorporate, transform, blossom, mutate, create, become.

-Gait/stomp/barefoot: Rooting, synchronizing, emptying, receiving, observing, unfolding.

-Ritual/meaning: listening: discovering, revealing, respecting, spiritualizing, honouring.

-Space/nature/character: Locate, co-inhabit, interact, mimic, translate, camouflage.

Who is it for? What is the aim of this laboratory?

This retreat is open to people from all over the world with or without previous experience who want to investigate their bodies and interdisciplinary artistic languages in connection with the natural environment; and people who wish to develop ideas, projects, put in dialogue their processes or create something new from their beginnings. Performing and visual artists, designers, therapists, researchers, scientists, musicians, writers, creatives and interested people from diverse backgrounds will be able to find inspiration and rethink working methodologies in this process.

ACTIVITIES AND SCHEDULES

Our morning training routines will utilize various approaches to movement and voice research; they will be mainly conducted outdoors, in the forest, weather permitting.

Sensitive, Thinking, Open Body (Enter and Open)

Days begin with an open space for guided meditation that will help nurture silent presence, concentration and manifestation of intentions for the day. This personal experience, soft and deep, will serve as a way to encourage proprioception and conscious motor skills. For this we will practice various contemporary dance exercises, body weather parameters, Authentic Movement, yoga, stretching and manipulations that encourage receptivity and an intuitive response from the body.

Poetic Body, Creative Sessions

After a break for breakfast, we will give way to the Creative Sessions, making use of tools for the investigation of movement and voice, guidelines for perception and visual language, composition and improvisation exercises and interdisciplinary translation methodologies (materials, space, voice, image, drawing, sound and body).

Input

The afternoons will be dedicated to the creative processes of the participants; for this purpose we will open INPUT after the lunch break: a space for dialogue where we will offer examples of our artistic perspectives, those of other creators, and we will gladly receive yours through lectures, discussions, books and videos. In this dynamic place of exchange we will accompany with great care the needs that may arise among you.

Creative Processes

Fo.R.est is intended as a residency of creation; as such, this is the time of day for you to enter the 'thicket' of the forest of your creation and begin to find the clearings through which your ideas manifest themselves with total freedom. The experience of living together will guide your needs for solitary work or collaboration. In these twohours each day, dedicated to this practice, we’ll be at your disposal for any questions or needs that may arise.

Fire Circles

Honouring the wisdom and tradition of native tribes from all over the earth, our days will end by the fire, sharing the concerns, discoveries and needs of each person and offering intentions for the next day. These sacred circles will also be an invitation to share and celebrate togetherness with music, dance, song and any other form of artistic expression in a spontaneous way.

Crossing/walk about

On Thursday, January 4th we will prepare for an all-day journey in the forest. As we walk, we will observe how the limits imposed between the self and the other, the mind and the body, the observer and the observed begin to dissipate as we advance; to give way to a state of non-dual consciousness. Once this perception is achieved, we will practice exercises that are nourished by the environment; taking off our shoes and closing our eyes to connect with the earth, the space and the others; thus helping to raise our proprioception and vital energy. 
Through the orography and the historical/cultural evolution of the terrain, we will propose exercises that relate movement, space and narration such as the millenary Salto del Garrote.

Water

On Saturday 6th we will spend the day on the coast, using the sea and the rocky outcrops as our studio, temporary home and stage. Gran Canaria is an optimal island to enjoy these landscapes and coastal spaces in a playful and creative way. We will propose exercises of dance and manipulation in the water. We will study simple parameters of apnea to then offer games with various materials in the water and perform underwater dances and filming.

Sunday of Proposals

The last day of the residency will be a final training session in the morning and, after lunch, we will focus on carrying out the last preparations and rehearsals to implement the proposals of the participants.

INFORMATION AND APLICATION

Technical requirements

A sketchbook, colouring pencils/pens, camera (Smartphone) with a small tripod, a small bag with a selection of materials that inspire you, that you want to work with (meaningful objects, clothing, fabrics). We will also work with natural materials that we collect from the environment. For the training, bring a yoga mat, sports shoes for walking in the bush and comfortable clothes, swimming or diving goggles, as well as everything you consider necessary for a week's stay, including a sleeping bag. We advise you to travel light, so that everything fits in a medium sized backpack.

Food

We will pay special attention to food, offering a complete and healthy vegetarian cuisine, catering to the needs of each person. We will learn and celebrate some of the wonderful recipes of the culinary culture of the Canary Islands and share those of the participants. Group integration and collaboration is part of the experience, so participants will be involved in the preparation of the food and in the maintenance of the space.

Accommodation

We will stay at the Finca de los Tilos where the different indoor and outdoor classes will take place. It has a dining room, living room with a large fireplace, showers, toilets, hot water and kitchen. A large terrace overlooking the wild ravine and a private forest of 8000m2 to enjoy our practices. Accommodation will be in shared rooms. There is the possibility of using individual tents on request.

The arrival/meeting point is the GuaGuas (bus) station in the village of Moya.

Location: La Finca de los Tilos, Gran Canaria Island, Spain

Dates: January 2 to January 7, 2024.

Maximum number of participants: 15 - Deadline: until fully booked

Price: 550 euros Included: Workshop, food, accommodation, transport f/b Villa de Moya to La Finca de los Tilos.

To participate, write us a short motivation letter to the following email:

hobelasai@gmail.com and we will contact you to complete the registration process.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Javier Murugarren +31636262141 hobelasai@gmail.com

Lesley Bohncke +34622542803 lesleybohncke@gmail.com

https://www.remostudio.nl