Oika initiated by the ecologist Rich Blundell in the US, is a Science & Arts with Nature project. Oika redifines the meaning of the greek term Oἶκος (owning the land), as belonging to the land. Oika Spain coordinated by Fred Adam, is a proposal to apply the Oika concepts and practices in Spain. Everything starts with a good Earth story...
The story of the wooden hut
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un hermoso humedal, un santuario de aves -
la cabaña, símbolo de la conexión con la naturaleza -
la cabaña, un lugar de encuentros -
una red creciente de formas de vida y personas -
2 torres de observación de aves -
crecimiento de una comunidad resiliente -
a proximidad de la Villa de Catral
This is the story of a liminal place, a wooden hut at the end of the road, the junction between nature and culture, a journey for environmental and social healing. This story inspired by the Oika project created by the ecologist Rich Blundell, is an intend to regenerate the roots of the local community with the wetland through a collaborative Art practice involving memories, dreams, emotions, sensations and the creativity. As an extension in Spain of the Oika Project, the aim is to give also to the community of Oika artists the opportunity to apply for a residence at the wooden hut in 2022. Check the Exhibition page to discover the Permanent Creation Room . This project leaded by Fred Adam is counting with the colaboration of the city of Catral and the environmental association AHSA .
PERSON, PLACE, PRACTICE, PROSPER AT THE WOODEN HUT
PERSON - expanding the concentric rings of perception
We are droplets of water, cross weaving the concentric cirlces of thoughts and perceptions in space and time. But this exchange is not limited to humans, it extends as far as we can touch, see, smell and listen with other beings. Deep listening is a practice very useful to visualize the sonic waves like the droplets on the surface of the water. This practice reveals that we are part of an ongoing polyphony, expanding our "person" towards the sonic horizon.
PLACE - know the Earth as much as you can
Exploring every corners and dimensions of the the territory is an unending journey into the intimacy of nature at large, the sun , the clouds, the mountains, the song of the birds and the bees , the ravines, the rivers , every little rocks and marine fossils are waiting to get your attention and talk with you.
PRACTICE - visiting the same locations
Knowing the intimacy of a place takes a lot of time, it's about mutual trust and appreciation, an opportunity to be welcomed by the trees, fhe insects, birds and foxes. If you spend a lot of time then you will discover the magic hour, the right moment, the sychronicity, the sacred.
PROSPER - Art Practice with the local community
A growing local community of hammockers emerged along the years. We organized several Planetary Hammocking events where each participant could introduce a secret spot of their choice. Kids from 8 to 13 years are invited every month to spend part of the day at the hut. Check the corresponding websites for more details.
Oika Arts
The process of gamification of knowledge is a way to emulate the excitment and the joy of being in nature. It is also a way to establish collabortive processes of learning and creating together.
Earth Stories, responding to the challenges of the anthropocene from the artistic practice.
Earth Stories is a form of spontaneous audiovisual creation inspired by nature and connected with the Earth. It explores how we can tell stories based on our direct interaction with the intelligence of the planet.
The resulting artwork is not just a physical object or a digital file, it aspires to be a source of inspiration, an impulse for environmental regeneration.
