Jan 22, 2012
Living in the Américas - Spring 2012
BAC Long Studio
Preparation
Longstudio Movie Festival
Studio start to dinner break
01/23/12:
“Buena Vista Social Club”
(105 minutes)
This movie goes along nicely with the ‘preconceptions’ topic of the first session.
01/26/12:
“One Among Thousands”
(97 minutes)
A ‘Pedro Pan’ refugee who became a musician returns to Cuba. There’s a good focus on La Habana Vieja and Centro Habana,
01/30/12:
“Unfinished Spaces”
(86 Minutes)
The recently released film the chronicles the history of the Schools of Art and their archtiects.
02/02/12
“Guantanamera”
(102 Minutes)
This ‘road movie’ critiques revolutionary culture with humor. Plenty of Cuba to see in the process.
02/06/12
“East of Havana”
(82 minutes)
Cuban Hip Hop Artists try to be heard. An in-depth view of life in Alamar.
This part of the studio takes place from January 23, 2012 until the phase Investigation starts on the 9th of February. It consists of research and design explorations
Exploration Assignments
Immediately following dinner break
Each Longstudiero will present work which describes their reaction to the assignment to the entire studio for comment and reaction. Each assignment includes reading, research, and creating artwork. Presentation dates and .pdf copies of the assignments are as follows:
01/23/12
Introductions & Preconceptions
01/26/12
Bohio Interpretation
01/30/12
Fortifications
Additional Reading
02/02/12
Spirtiualtiy
02/06/12
Tastes of Cuba
History Assignments
Immediately following exploration
Here are three fairly interesting sources of history of Cuba:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/145542/Cuba
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Cuban_history
There will be four presentations of the history of Cuba. The dates chosen for the history segments are based on Richard Gott’s book: “CUBA, a new history’
The first presentation will be made by the instructors at the initial meeting of the studio:
01/23/12
history 1: up to 1740 (that is, up to the time that sugar and tobacco begin to be the basis of Cuba’s economy)
The next three presentations will be done by the other members of the studio:
01/26/12
history 2: 1740-1868 (which he describes as the times of foreign invasion of the colony)
01/30/12
history 3: 1868-1902 (long wars for independence, culminating in American Occupation)
02/02/12
history 4: 1902-present (two kinds of republics)
The presentations will be done as a collage (either physical or digital). The method for producing the collage is:
1. Consult the wikipedia (or other source as you like) time line for the dates in question;
2. Select key words and events from the timeline that you find interesting;
3. Create a collage and pin it up on the studio walls; and
4. Give the presentation to the studio on the night listed.
