Artist's Blog: San Lucas Arts Programme

Today's blog is written by Holly Howarth, 13A's resident Artist:

Crossing the Gulf of Nicoya from Puntarenas harbour towards the island of San Lucas, tides of excitement and trepidation churn in waves of equal measure as we approach a place of tragedy, heroism and regeneration. Where once San Lucas encapsulated the destructive nature of humanity as a penal island, it’s current status as national park symbolises the island as a place where humanity can protect nature.  

Paul's lizard

For twelve days, I undertook an arts programme with Alpha 5, with all this information swimming in our heads. As with the nature of the expedition, our activities revolved around the topics of environmentalism, as well as social justice. Whilst San Lucas is a protected habitat, it is not immune to the waste, dumped into the sea from neighbouring areas, which washes up on its beaches; therefore, it was an obvious choice of material for some of our projects.

My mission was to get everybody thinking about what can be achieved creatively with found objects, whether organic or man-made. Reflecting on Raleigh’s ethos of take only photos leave only footprints, our challenge was to be as considerate to the environment as possible. Often in art, permanence is considered the most valuable commodity; on San Lucas, temporality was our trademark. Our first day we were inspired by the artist Andy Goldsworthy, famous for his sole use of natural materials. Using driftwood on Playa de Coco, Anna, PM Sal and Nick created a conical sculpture in the middle of the beach.     

Andy Goldsworthy

Part of our time on San Lucas has been spent working on a path, connecting one end of the island to the other, thus improving access for the rangers, and there has been a lot of raking involved in the clearing. Taking inspiration from the beautiful Japanese tradition of raked gardens and their ability to draw attention to the contours of landscapes, we used our equipment to draw in the sand. Matt and Job took quite a philosophical approach to their work, creating work that surmised their outlook on life.

Working on Playa de Coco, it wouldn’t be right to omit coconuts from our programme! Emily and Gina set about finding items washed up on the beach and arranged them within coconuts, running down the beach. We wanted to demonstrate the interesting contrasts and compositions created from the found objects. It allowed us to consider the possibilities of how seemingly discarded things can be re-used. We then drew them in abstracted forms on paper.

Everyone was keen to continue using coconuts for their art sessions and so the next day PM Paul and Ben turned their creative hands to painting directly on them, creating really interesting designs, with some showing our adventures on the island. Afterwards, we gave a few to Chito, one of the rangers, as a means of saying thank you for all his help. They now have pride of place in their lodge!

Charlie and Greg did a fantastic job at sprucing the jetty up in time for Ben’s birthday. We made bunting out of the paper in our art kits and painted on pieces of driftwood. Ben was very impressed with our effort and it was a good excuse for the group to spend a little extra time by the sea!

In preparation for Gabby and Rich’s arrival (the road-trip crew visiting the different Alphas across Costa Rica) Jade and Kat set about designing signs to put around our campsite. They did an amazing job and the camp felt very much our own once the signs were up. 

The group, on the back of this, were keen to make a flag and demonstrate all our happenings since we arrived. Whilst the group set about painting onto an old t-shirt of Matt’s, Charlie demonstrated his artistic abilities on everyone else.

I set about the task for Olly and PM Kate to create a Cubist-themed drawing from one of the numerous animal skulls we picked up on the island, using any media that they liked. We determined that our subject was probably a dog’s skull, although we couldn’t be sure. Either way, they created a brilliant piece, which will go up at the Fieldbase exhibition during changeover.

Pablo Picasso

Valentine’s Day was a highlight - the group made brilliant cards (they're all romantics at heart). The project was to write a motto or saying that has a special meaning to them. Their ‘negative’ template was then used to create a frame in which to photograph through- an image which summed up for them their time on San Lucas. 

Maybe it was the location, the history, the nature, but I think the success of the arts programme on San Lucas was down to the enthusiasm of every individual in Alpha 5. Pura Vida! 

Alpha 4, 5 & 10

It has been an amazing couple of weeks for Alpha's 4, 5 and 10 and our bloggers Emma, Josh, Olly and Glyn have given updates on their progress.

Alpha 4, Carara National Park by Josh and Emma

It has been wild since Day 1 here at Carara when we came under tarantula 'attack' and met our resident iguana that we have named 'killer' for the first time. We quickly embraced our luxurious new home fully furnished with beds, showers and the occasional tree frog.

Alpha 4: Henry, George, Ben, Josh, Ollie, Emma, Celine, Emilie, Cecilia, Amy, Lewis, Adriana, Lou, Jos, Emma and Hidde

Once everything was set up we were ready to hit the ground running, lining over 100m of path with rcks. Since then our progress has continued and we have renovated many 100s of metres since including raking,gravelling and stone moving. One of the most rewarding parts of working in Carara is the instant gratification from the hundreds of tourists who visit each day and are always interested in and thankful for our work. We have felt perfectly at home here, having thrown Celine a birthday party including a magnificent biscuit cake, and have since held a jungle party with Tang cocktails and a quiz.

Ollie hard at work

We are all fighting fit and plan to continue working hard, until we cannot gravel anymore! We feel blessed to have seen all the wildlife in this magnificent park including Scarlet Macaws, an anteater, Capuchin monkey, hummingbirds, snakes and multiple agouti alongside witnessing an iguana eat a tarantula and a rare sighting of the illusive Carara puma. Every day we experience more and are so excited about our final few days and what they will bring. Pura Vida!

Alpha 5, San Lucas Island, Olly Wolrond

Celebrating St.Valentine's Day

It's hard to believe that I'm writing this blog entry on day 12 of our inhabitation of San Lucas Island. Although the phrase "time flies when you're having fun" does apply, I think it's more a case of time flies when you're working very hard. However, the palm lined Playa de Coco (literally Coconut Beach) on our doorstep does a little to ease the aches. The beach is also a reminder of our mission here to protect and conserve this beautiful island and it's habitat.

Alpha 5: Sally, Jade, Greg, Kate, Gina, Holly, Nick, Olly, Matt, Emily, Kat, Anna, Ben, Charlie, Paul and Job

We hope to keep the island as untouched as possible, preserving it's status as a nature reserve and allowing future generations to enjoy it as we have; while at the same time helping the Rangers to protect the island from poachers who take trees and animals from the islands beaches and forests. By far the most vocal species of animals at risk from poaching are the Howler Monkeys (surprisingly tiny for their loud calls), we thought they were massing for attack the camp however we have since become used to the maniacal calls that occur throughout the day and night.

Hard at work on the trail

Monkeys however are not the only animal to contend with on the island; ants, stick insects and most memorably a tarantula have all wandered into our kitchen. We've also seen an armadillo, hundreds of hermit crabs, have been set upon by bees whilst working and we also share our food store with bats! However we have also seen the other side of the islands natural habitat stargazing on the jetty and seeing for the first time the island's fluorescent water plankton which gives the sea a sparkling glow.

Howler monkeys up in the trees around camp

In building our trail across the island we hope to protect this habitat by providing a new path for the Rangers which will allow them to better patrol the different beaches from the threat of poachers as well as clearing and maintaining the beaches from rubbish which comes on shore from the sea. Taking down buildings is also part of our task and we hope that we will create an environment which will attract responsible tourists to the island both to view the infamous prison and admire the unspoilt natural environment. In terms of global impact we hope that our part in promoting conservation areas in Costa Rica will add to it's global reputation in providing the right way to protect the natural environment.

Alpha 10, Arenilla Miraflor

Raleigh is working alongside the local community of La Arenilla in Miraflor to build sustainable housing. This encompasses levelling the terrain, laying foundations and making adobe (mud) bricks to build new houses.  These solid, low-tech and durable homes replace makeshift accommodation that cannot withstand the storms and rains.

The view from our homes

Raleigh’s Expedition 13A Alpha 10 group came to La Arenilla with the aim of progressing building work on 60 to 70 percent of the locals’ new housing. That aim is near completion.

This project is to provide the people of La Arenilla with safe and stable housing. This project is not just to build sustainable housing, it is to secure a future for the children and grandchildren.  Somewhere for them to study, somewhere for them to be safe and confident that when the wet season comes their homes will not be washed away.  We are proud that Alpha 10 has helped this community realise its ambition to adapt to the climatic conditions, to withstand the rains and to carry on into the dry season without rebuilding every year. 

Tomorrow a social justice blog from Alpha 8 and an update from Alpha 7.

Spotlight on Social Justice: Alpha 5 San Lucas Island

Continuing with our theme of Social Justice in the lead up to the 20th February, two of our Venturers on San Lucas Prison Island expressed their thoughts:

Olly Wolrond took in his surroundings on San Lucas Island and considered the Penal System:

The jetty where prisoners would arrive at San Lucas Prison

"In a perfect society, everyone must have access to swift and powerful justice without this there can be no socially just society. After all, what better way is there to make everyone equal than to hold them to the same just laws."

"It is the second condition of this justice that gives rise to a penal system. That is they must be powerful enough to punish crimes but it is a mark of a society how it deals with those that break it's codes. The horrific conditions we have heard about that existed at San Lucas prison reveal how the abuse of a penal system can lead to tragedy and lowered the gaolers to inhumane levels."

                                                

The renovated entrance to the prison compound

"In a truly socially just society incarceration must only be used if all other forms of sentence are exhausted or would not suffice. For example: restorative justice, education, rehabilitation and support for the perpetration of a crime are all more effective than incarceration, as the ultimate aim of a criminal legal system is to make sure it never breaks the codes of society again. If they can do that themselves, with help and guidance then brilliant but if not the taking of individuals liberty, a basic human right, is the last resort. This forcefully stops them from breaking society's rules and is applicable when they are judged to be too dangerous to be allowed back into a socially just society; their crime is too severe to escape punishment."

"Conversely, the penal system in a socially unjust society can be used to detain those who are trying to change society for the better, leading to prisoners of conscience. This is all too common and is occurring today in the world and it is an important consideration when thinking of social injustice in the world."
                                   

Alpha 5 at sunrise

Matt Heathcote on San Lucas Island and Social Justice

Holly peering into the well where men were put for up to 5 days in knee deep water as punishment

"When San Lucas closed in 1991, a new chapter began for social justice in Costa Rica. Allegations of brutality, torture and the failure to respect the basic needs of the individual prisoners meant that the island had no place in modern society. San Lucas portrayed the worst of humanity in how other humans treated fellow humans."

A section of one of the prison cells showing the nature of one of the gang's incarceration

"Nowadays 'The Island of the Lonely Men' represents a new chance for social justice to blossom through giving people the opportunity to bear witness and learn about the violations. Furthermore through redeveloping the prison via maintaining and creating new trails and educating visitors, we hope to promote the vision of a world where all humans maybe treated fairly and equally both before the law and each other, while receiving the basic essentials for a happy and fulfilling life."

All of the Alphas are doing really well, working hard and will be back at Fieldbase on the 21st February, so lots of updates to come.

A woman's work...Alpha 5

In Los Loros tasks are clearly divided between the men and the women.  This is what Jonas and I found out when he was making a tortilla and I was watching him from a hammock.  Our dad explained this wasn't the way to go and took Jonas with him to show him his horse, pigs and chickens.  Now me and my mum have the whole kitchen for ourselves - lucky us!

Hester turns her hand to "man's work"

While the men are machete-ing their way through sesame seed fields and helping us dig the trenches (way better and faster than we can), the women are busy making tortillas, milking cows and washing Raleigh shirts (hell yeah, my mum does my laundry!)

Jonas, master of all he surveys

One thing is for sure, they treat you as their family, or even better.  We get huge meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, loads of rice pudding and bananas all day long.  And last but certainly not least: the coffee!!  I didn't like the coffee at all before I came here, but now I can't get enough (I guess the loads of sugar they put in also helps).

Hester, Jonas and their new Nicaraguan family

But the full family treatment doesn't end with feeding and digging trenches.  Yesterday I had a manicure with my mum and cousin - my nails have never looked as bad as they do now but I love them!  We taught our little brothers to play cards and as we learn more and more Spanish we try to teach them some English.  As soon as we take out our head torches (at 17.30 it's pitch black out here), pen and paper the whole family gathers around just watching us write the alphabet and some easy English phrases.  My mum is the only one who can read and write but everyone is extremely interested (while I'm writing now there are three heads watching me) - it's a lovely feeling.

 from Hester, Project Comms Officer

The aliens have landed...Alpha 5

The aliens have landed!  Bleary eyed by our rocky road trip we arrive at the peaceful village of Los Loros.  With our green t-shirts, tool box and strange pills for our water.

Raleigh has journeyed for over two days to help locate, plan and build a gravity water feed to the rural  village of Los Loros.  Alongside Raleigh volunteers, the Achuapa Co-operative group will supply clean water to over ten households and one school.  The remote village of Los Loros is surrounded by beautiful Nicaraguan mountains 50 metres above sea level.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work they go

The water source is a further 70 metres above.  The local village men, Co-operative group and Raleigh volunteers from all corners of the world will plan and dig trenches through varying mountain terrain to bring fresh clean mountain water to within walking distance of the houses of Los Loros.

We greet the locals who have been awaiting our arrival.  It's just before dusk and outside the home of Maria Jesus we are introduced to our respective families who greet us with a big hug and a beautiful song that references our individual homes.

"Welcome England, welcome Holland, welcome Germany, Welcome Costa Rica, Welcome Portugal.  

Los Loros welcomes you as our children." 

Work mates - Alex and the Captain

We disperse into our houses and gobble a feast of rice, beans and plantain.  No need for an alarm clock here, we rise to the sound of a singing rooster and begin our plans.  My new mother shows us pictures of her 12 brothers and sisters and we are keen to learn of her family.

Anika, Mela and their new Nicaraguan family

My mum's name is Bertalina and my dad is Miguel, who tells me it was love at first sight when he saw Berta washing in a stream many years ago.   The following morning armed with a bowl, Berta takes me to a stream a few metres below our house where I wash whilst listening to the peaceful movement of water where previously I could only hear my ipod.  I walk back from the stream greeted by a roaring pig.

The community here in Los Loros has welcomed us with open arms, which has made the experience much easier and exciting to experience.  And this is only the beginning of phase 1...

Anika and Anna radio in the news

 Project Comms Officer, Anika

Alpha 5 - singing in the rain

Nicaraguan road (off road) trip

We are now on day 7, and over half way through, our epic Nicaraguan road trip.  A small but happy band of intrepid VMs, we loaded up our Land rover with salami, toilet paper, refried beans and other essentials and set off in search of trekkers, community projects and adventure.  We found all three.

We had a smooth ride along the InterAmerican highway to make our way to Nicaragua.

We had a much bumpier ride to find the Trekkers, having to rebuild some of the road as we went.

And we had to leave the trusty Landy behind altogether and proceed on foot to find the community projects.

First was a visit to Alpha 2 , the Miratombo Trekkers, who we on fine form having made good time that day to be bang on schedule.  We were able to cook them supper and pass on messages from home which lifted their spirits even further.

Next we spent some time with 2 ICS projects near Achuapa, this is a different scheme to the core Raleigh programme but they do similar projects with local communities to provide running water, coffee drying beds, and supporting youth and women's groups.

Today we are providing another food drop for Alpha 2 who have requested fresh fruit, which will be a pleasure to provide.  We'll stay with them for the night then it's off to Alpha 5 for two nights.

Alpha 5 have requested tea bags, biscuits and candles - they intend hosting a British tea party for their community.  I'm not sure if the candles are out of necessity or just for ambiance; it's all very Downton Abbey.

So for those of you keenly anticipating news of your venturers I should have a lot more to tell you in the next couple of days.  Watch this space...