CIRCULARES

Artistic Residence. Painting and Performance in Echo, Spain.
July-August 2024

The project, directed by teacher Laura Quintanilla for Lo Mon Contemporáneo, with the assistance of Karin Verbru, involved creating a collaborative painting that represents the Echo Valley in the Spanish Pyrynees through symbols. The artwork features the silhouettes of a child, a teenager, three men, and three women, filled with symbols that reflect their cultural heritage, traditions, landscape, and other personal and community aspects. The creation process included a month of meetings and activities with the community from the four villages of the Valley, resulting in a 4-meter diameter canvas that captures the spirit of the Echo Valley community in the Pyrenees.

Full documentary about this project
Photos belong to El Estudio

We concluded this project with a spectacular performance.

In front of the mural, everyone gathered in a circle around the painting. In the town hall square, everything depicted in the painting came to life with poetry in Spanish and Cheso, Mexican and Aragonese music, traditional dances, stories, songs in Mixtec, the jota, the gaita, traditional attire, and food and drinks from Mexico and Spain.

The moment was truly special, bringing together everything that makes the Echo Valley unique. Standing there after a month of work, surrounded by supportive community members, everyone felt joy and familiarity. Laura read a poem, I sang a song to Tonanzin, and others shared poetry and music, leading to communal dancing and celebration.

The whole village contributed with food and drinks, creating a joyful and heartfelt gathering that highlighted the spirit and unity of the community. Finishing the painting at 4 am with much support, we felt deeply moved and grateful for the beautiful, powerful experience.