Nuestra Familia

A huge thank you goes out to our Honduran Family, the Paredes.  They helped us paste, drive us around to sites, let us take over their living room with all our prints, and were just as excited as we were to get the project up and going.  We couldn't have done this without them.  They are the base of our inspiration in Progreso and always will be and we love them dearly.

THANK YOU | GRACIAS

Thank you all for the support that you have given us through out our project La Fuerza Silenciosa!  We couldn't be more grateful!

Day 6

Today we went with our close friend Dr. Guillermo Mahchi, pharmacist and amazing artist to finish up our last pastes.  He was an amazing help telling us which walls still needed something to make the flow of images on the Boulevard more consistent.  I would have to say he was our curator today- which was a great help because we needed a outside artistic opinion on our last day to tie everything together.

We were definitely exhausted and so happy by the end of the day.  We are done!  It's hard to believe.  We were then interviewed on the local television station Teleprogreso explaining the project and our motive behind why we would focus on the women of El Progreso.

So there are now 50 images of women though the town of El Progreso!  The dialogue has begun and we couldn't be happier.

Day 5

Today was totally surreal! I don't think either of us would have ever imagined this could even happen.  But after a meeting with the Mayor and getting his approval of the project.  We basically had free reign of the main road in El Progreso's center.  And not only that but the help of the amazing Firefighters Wilmer and Mairena, both of which have served in Progreso 30 years combined.  With their help we were able to hit all the higher walls which was exciting because we saved most of our larger prints for the center.  We also took Day 3 and 4 to plan how and where we were going to post our images along with take some time to think about how we can elaborate creatively and create some fun details with cut outs, spray piant, and decorative attachments.

We were also joined by Ivo Oliveira, who was perfect to have around when we had to do some serious problem solving with some of the larger or more delicate pastes.  There were a couple points where things just seemed like we weren't sure if we were going to be able to get a certain print up because it was ripping in the wind and wet with wheatpaste already and we were all just tired from working in the scorching sun all day, but together we pushed through.  What I realized is the patience needed for the larger pieces.  They take so much longer then you would expect and they are never easy to line up unless you are calm and take your time- no room for panicking even when it is ripping. But I think we did a good job switching off and everyone took the wheel at some point that day and was supported by the rest.

It was such a different experience from the days prior.  There would be a crowd around us as we are trying so desperately to get this 12ft. peice to line up with all it's parts or to get that lacey frame up around the photo of Doña Elvira.  But we got everything done that we wanted to... and we still have 10 more to go for tomorrow.

Day 2

We had another great day in the community.  We were kind of surprised how easy it has been to get permission to paste on their walls from people we didn't know . But after some conversations people seemed really curious about what we were doing.  This morning one of the Arroyo water men asked what was going on in the barrio and he said when he had seen the woman on the side of the house he thought she was missing...haha.  He soon realized there were a bunch of women posted as he did his rounds.  He joked with us and said "Are ALL of these women missing?!" The questions have definitely begun to buzz in our neighborhood.  We are happy to see people stop and taking interest in the project.

One less camera, but safe.

Since Friday there has been an insane amount of awesome. Honestly, is has been a little surreal. But today, something happened that was not so awesome, in fact it was pretty bad.

Alicia, Joche and I were pasting the last set of images at a nearby school. I brought my video camera, because it is small and fits in my pocket like a cell phone. Long story short, a man on a red motorcycle pulled up and robbed us. It was quick, and felt a little too much like an old routine.

He stole the camera and rode off into the distance.

He didn't show me a gun, I am not even positive he had one. But having been held up before, I am more than ok with it staying hidden; especially with kids around.

Afterwards we stopped by a friends house to get ride of the nerves,and soon a familiar refrain began-"You shouldn't have gone to the house alone.", "I shouldn't have brought my camera." "I should have saved all that awesome footage. " should haves and shouldn't haves fill your thoughts and conversations. I knew all the risks.

But here is the deal, it is nobodies fault but the man on the moto. That is the end of it. He chooses to steal.

That is why projects like this are important. We are trying to recognize the women who live here. Who also get assaulted, who also carry a little money just I case they get robbed, who worry when children don't come home on time at night because of all the ugly possibilities.

So my camera, whatever. At least we weren't hurt. I can buy another camera. I am here because, "No quieren vivir asi, pero quieren vivir aqui" or "They don't want to live like this, but they want to live here."

And I love them for that.

Day 1

 

 Our first day out pasting was amazing!  We got permission with so much ease and enthusiasm.  It has been so exciting to see how the community responds to the images.  They will stop on there bikes, walk up, and just watch us- and they are never afraid to ask questions.  It has been a great way to start a dialogue about their perspective on all that women do in this community.  Check out more pictures on our Facebook page InsideOut | El Progreso, Honduras.