The Herbologies/Foraging Networks programme of events, focused in
Helsinki (Finland) and Kurzeme region of Latvia, explores the cultural
traditions and knowledge of herbs, edible and medicinal plants, within
the contemporary context of online networks, open information-sharing,
biological and hydroponic technologies.
The traditions of finding and knowing about wild food in the local
Nordic environment are slipping away from the current generation. How
can one attract their attention: With books, online maps, workshops,
mobile-guided tours, open-source information or DNA code? Or learn how
to grow them yourself, over the dark winter months?
The Pixelache Festival events introduce the different meeting points
between the three collaborating partners, including seminar
presentations by international artists and Finnish botanical experts;
workshops sharing that knowledge with the public; a round-table
discussion about foraging in the urban context; and a localised
manifestation of the Windowfarms Project
(US).
Following, in a midsummer expedition to rural Kurzeme, Western Latvia,
SERDE Interdisciplinary Art Group will lead fieldwork to learn about
the cultural heritage of Balts using wild plants, and create documents
for the younger ‘digital native’ generation.
Initiators/Organisers: Andrew Gryf Paterson (SCO/FI), Ulla Taipale /
Capsula (FI/ES) and Signe Pucena / SERDE (LV).
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PIXELACHE PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
As part of Pixelversity / Pixelache Helsinki Festival
Saturday-Sunday 20-21.2.2010, Kiasma ‘taka-ikkuna’, 12.00-18.00.
Participate in Windowfarms Finland
Participatory workshop open for people to attend (as part of
Pixelversity). Construction led by Mikko Laajola (FI), Niko Punin
(FI), Andrew Gryf Paterson (SCO/FI), Ulla Taipale (FI) + other
enthusiasts.
Friday 26.3.2010, Kerava Art Museum (Camp Pixelache), time to be confirmed.
Contribution to DIY/Bio-tech/Open-source Hardware themes with short
presentation by
Niko Punin (FI) of ‘LetsGrowIt’ and remote/recorded presentation by
Britta Riley (US) about ‘Windowfarms Project’.
Saturday 27.3.2010, Kiasma Seminar Room, 13.00-16.45.
Herbologies/Foraging Networks Seminar
Introduction to full Herbologies/Foraging Networks programme (10mins)
*Cultural Heritage* (50mins)
Signe Pucena (LV): ‘Herbs and cultural heritage, expeditions -project’
Kultivator (SE): ‘Wedding between Art and Agriculture’
*Urban Space* (1hr 15 mins)
Christina Stadlbauer (AT/BE): Honey foraging in urban environments.
Dyykkaus Round table in Finnish, ideally including: ‘dumpster
diver’/'dyykkaaja’, food health adviser, food distributor, supermarket
representative, market seller of vegetables.
*Information & Sharing* (1hr 30 mins)
Andrew Gryf Paterson (SCO/FI): Foraging networks online
Ossi Kakko (FI): Intellectual property/Bio-piratism
Sinikka Piippo (FI): Mielen ja kehon kuntoa kasveilla / Health of mind
and body with herbs
Saturday 27.3.2010, Kiasma Seminar Room, 17.30-18.30.
VivoArts Workshop with Adam Zaretsky (US)
American bio-artist Adam Zaretsky will lead a performative workshop
inviting to get involved with plant DNA using DIY methods and
household implements.
Sunday 28.3.2010, Botanical Garden Kaisaniemi (Linkola & Elfving
Rooms), 11.00-14.00.
Herbologies Workshops
Wild plant expert Ossi Kakko (FI) and artist-producer Signe Pucena
(LV) will share traditional methods for processing herbs through
fermentation (villivihannesten hapatuskurssi) and vodka
tincture-making respectively.
Sunday 28.3.2010, Kiasma ‘taka-ikkuna’, 18.00-19.00.
Windowfarms Project Installation Closing
Dismantling event with music.
--------------------PROGRAMME IN LATVIA---------------------
MIDSUMMER EXPEDITION TO KURZEME, LATVIA
In collaboration with Centre for Interdisciplinary Arts SERDE (LV),
Expeditions to Rucava, Kalvene, Alsunga, June 20-25, 2010.
An expedition of fieldwork will take place in small villages of
Kurzeme region, building upon SERDE’s experience of engaging cultural
heritage subjects as an arts organisation. Here the
Herbologies/Foraging Networks project aims to preserve and document
traditional cultural values related to herb-gathering in Latvia,
promoting and developing a more diverse society than the traditional
understanding of the cultural manifestations of the past and today,
the identification and assignment needs.
Several persons from the assembled network: Kultivator (SE), Klaipeda
Cultural Communication Centre (LT), Ossi Kakko (FI) as well as
coordinators Andrew Gryf Paterson (SCO/FI) and Ulla Taipale (FI), are
invited to Latvia from Sweden, Finland and Lithuania, along with
Latvian experts, cultural workers and other documenters.
‘Documentation Sprint’, SERDE Art Residency Centre, Aizpute, June 26-30 2010.
Using a method from extreme software development and project
management, ‘Sprints’ produce collectively-made artefacts (software,
manuals, etc.) quickly over a set period of time.
In this case, several of the key invited collaborators will be invited
to stay longer, to write up the fieldwork in the form of stories,
charts, manuals, recipies, reports, diagrams, and process media or
data. Several infomation and media experts will be invited from Riga
to help with the process, as well as nomination of persons who would
translate as much textual content as possible into the different
regional languages (Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, Finnish, Swedish,
English).
The ambition of the sprint will be to make a proof layout of a new
‘Traditional Booklet’, published by SERDE, and online documentation,
to be ready in September 2010.
Expressions of interest to join the expedition should be sent to
herbologies [-at-] pixelache.ac by 30th April 2010.
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Support
The general production and all events in this programme are supported
by an Art and Culture Production grant from Kultur Kontakt Nord.
Windowfarms Finland production is supported by AVEK (The Promotion
Centre for Audiovisual Culture).