CARE AND ENCHANTMENT

13th – 17th, 20th – 24th, 27th – 31st of July of 2015

The intersection of Art, Biology and the Environment offer unique opportunities to visual artists. This innovative summer course will allow non-specialists to acquire theoretical and practical skills in biological and environmental sciences in connection to the visual arts.

The Summer School explores the interdisciplinary relationship between art, life and environmental sciences through hands-on exercises, combining theory and practice in an informal environment, e.g.: seminars, debates, visits, and the creation of artworks with biological media.

The activities will address issues such as the cultural representations of technology and science, ethical concerns and the evolution of bioart as a cultural phenomenon. One week program with the opportunity to exted the stay for one or two additional weeks to develop an art project in a collaborative environment.

The practical component will focus on hands-on exercises in the laboratory, workshop, and within the natural environment. The possibility of transforming abstract concepts into art objects, the collection and selection of organisms for artistic purposes will be highlighted, and, finally, visits to different parts of the natural park, will take place.

The course will leave plenty of room for informal activities, and a cultural and social program.

The cost will be 650€ for the first week and 550€ for the optional 2 weeks after. The price includes accommodation at Cultivamos Cultura (a farmhouse), meals, tuition and general consumables for the course; from 13th July to 17th July for the first week and 20-24 July for the second week and 27-31 July for the third week (weekends are included between course weeks and will be dedicated to socializing and leisure activities).

PROGRAM:

12th July:
CHECK-IN You will arrive in the town of São Luis and come to the house of Cultivamos Cultura (for details on how to get there and help organising arrivals please email us at: info@cultivamoscultura.org)
19.30 aproximately
DINNER ON SITE We will have food all day available for the participants that will arrive. For dinner we will have a full meal prepared.
13th July:
08:00 – 9:00 – TRIP TO THE LOCAL MARKET In groups of 2/3 participants will be invited to go to the market and choose the day’s fresh products to make the meals.
09:00 – 10:00 – BREAKFAST Yogurts and milk, local cheese, fresh bread, home made jams and honey, cereals and fruit… Anything you may need to have a great breakfast!
10:00 – 13:00 – PRACTICAL We will prepare our work stations, learn about safety and contamination and start the first experiments. (Bacteria and Fungi)
13:00 – 14:00 – LUNCH We will prepare and eat together outdoors in our garden.
14:00 – 17:00 – LECTURES and DISCUSSION Introduction to the themes and readings.
17:15 – 18:30 – PRACTICAL We will continue with the day’s experiments (Bacteria and Fungi)
18:30 – 20:00 – FREE TIME Time to have showers (if you haven’t done so in the morning) and relax while preparing dinner.
20:00 – 21:30 – DINNER Dinner at home with a stimulating approach of traditional portuguese cuisine. (help from the participants requested)
14th July:
08:00 – 9:00 – TRIP TO THE LOCAL MARKET In groups of 2/3 participants will be invited to go to the market and choose the day’s fresh products to make the meals.
09:00 – 10:00 – BREAKFAST Yogurts and milk, local cheese, fresh bread, home made jams and honey, cereals and fruit… Anything you may need to have a great breakfast!
10:00 – 13:00 – PRACTICAL Experiments (vertebrates)
13:00 – 14:00 – LUNCH We will prepare and eat together outdoors in our garden.
14:00 – 18:30 – FIELD TRIP We will visit a local hotel with all it’s traditional architecture and ecological strategies, meet the architect and learn about energy conservation in traditional Portuguese building strategies. (naturarte.pt)
18:30 – 20:00 – FREE TIME Time to have showers (if you haven’t done so in the morning) and relax while preparing dinner.
20:00 – 21:30 – DINNER Dinner at home with a stimulating approach of traditional portuguese cuisine. (help from the participants requested)
15th July:
08:00 – 9:00 – TRIP TO THE LOCAL MARKET In groups of 2/3 participants will be invited to go to the market and choose the day’s fresh products to make the meals.
09:00 – 10:00 – BREAKFAST Yogurts and milk, local cheese, fresh bread, home made jams and honey, cereals and fruit… Anything you may need to have a great breakfast!
10:00 – 13:00 – PRACTICAL Experiments (Insects)
13:00 – 14:00 – LUNCH We will prepare and eat together outdoors in our garden.
14:00 – 17:00 – LECTURES and DISCUSSION Origin and what are it’s limitations
17:15 – 18:30 – PRACTICAL We will continue with the day’s experiments (Insects)
18:30 – 20:00 – FREE TIME Time to have showers (if you haven’t done so in the morning) and relax while preparing dinner.
20:00 – 21:30 – DINNER Dinner at home with a stimulating approach of traditional portuguese cuisine. (help from the participants requested)
16th July:
08:00 – 9:00 – TRIP TO THE LOCAL MARKET In groups of 2/3 participants will be invited to go to the market and choose the day’s fresh products to make the meals.
09:00 – 10:00 – BREAKFAST Yogurts and milk, local cheese, fresh bread, home made jams and honey, cereals and fruit… Anything you may need to have a great breakfast.
10:00 – 13:00 – PRACTICAL Experiments (vertebrates)
13:00 – 14:00 – LUNCH We will prepare and eat together outdoors in our garden.
14:00 – 18:30 – FIELD TRIP We will go to the cork workers and watch them harvest the threes. We will learn how the ecosystem works in the southern areas of Portugal, what are its characteristics and what is being done to maintain it. (mundomontado.com)
18:30 – 20:00 – FREE TIME Time to have showers (if you haven’t done so in the morning) and relax while preparing dinner.
20:00 – 21:30 – DINNER Dinner at home with a stimulating approach of traditional portuguese cuisine. (help from the participants requested)
17th July:
08:00 – 9:00 – TRIP TO THE LOCAL MARKET In groups of 2/3 participants will be invited to go to the market and choose the day’s fresh products to make the meals.
09:00 – 10:00 – BREAKFAST Yogurts and milk, local cheese, fresh bread, home made jams and honey, cereals and fruit… Anything you may need to have a great breakfast!
10:00 – 13:00 – PRACTICAL Experiments (vertebrates)
13:00 – 14:00 – LUNCH We will prepare and eat together outdoors in our garden.
14:00 – 15:00 – PRACTICAL We will continue with the day’s experiments (vertebrates)
15:30 – 19:30 – LECTURES and DISCUSSION Open discussion or lectures at the beach in Vila Nova de Milfontes.
19:30 – 20.00 – FREE TIME Warm Shower outdoors before dinner to clean the salt from the ocean!
20:00 – 21:30 – DINNER Dinner at a local restaurant in Milfontes.