SCANZ2013:Un Litro de Agua

Un Litro de Agua

Authors: Ana Terry, Don Hunter

Abstract

Number 8 Collective (Ana Terry and Don Hunter) will present part of their collaborative community arts-based project, Un Litro de Agua, undertaken during their arts residency in Medellin, Colombia in 2012. The Un Litro de Agua premise was to initiate discussion and critical thinking around sustainable water practices through urban interventions and myth rejuvenation / reinterpretation through various artistic formats – focussing on river rejuvenation. The workshops and associated activities – both digital and non-digital – involved working with NGO’s Mi Sangri, Casa Tres Patios, and several youth groups of Comuna Tresé (Community Thirteen). During this process it became apparent that while the project’s sustainable thematic was the initial focal point, the very foundation to sustainable practices (whatever the ultimate focus) can only occur through collective agreement to work together negotiating cultural boarders – at micro and macro levels. In this instance boarders between discrete facilitators involved, ourselves as gringos/foreigners, and between families within a community. The later became of particular significance as the young workshop participants are victims of the last 20 years of drug gang violence that has resulted in displacement and a constantly shifting hierarchy between gangs and their associated families within the community. The Un Litro de Agua community project was, after considerable negotiation, embraced by the community leaders; as beyond introducing concepts of environmental care, it introduced and supported new ways sharing and retelling diverse cultural narratives, involving teamwork, valuing individual points of view, sharing of resources, and learning to use tools creatively rather than as weapons.