Sunday, January 09, 2011

The Navigator's Journal

 There is a rumor going round that I've been invited to teach in Portugal this year....and as it turns out...the rumor is true.  Woo hoo!  I have been to Portugal once before with my father.  It was a great time of hanging out drinking "porto tinto" tinto....
and wandering the maze of streets in Lisbon's Alfama district....not to imply that the port made me wander aimlessly.  Well... I'm heading back August 21-29th...and I have to say it will be a doozy of a trip...fun fun fun.  Here's where we are headed...just down the road from Lisbon...
Did those photos catch your attention? 
So for a workshop I decided to come up with something Old World-ish.  One of the most famous figures in Portuguese history is Prince Henry the Navigator, renowned for his development of European exploration.  So I present:



The Navigator’s Journal 
 

One of Portugal’s most famous historic figures is Henry the Navigator and it got me thinking about the beautiful old books and captains logs of the era of exploration. Books were works of art as well as useful tools in those days, so, we too will be creating useful and artful tools.These Navigator’s Journals will be places where you share your discoveries…whatever they may be. Using a variety of found objects we will transform hardback books into found object explorations. To do this we will utilize the sculptural process of assemblage but since we are dealing with books we might as well play with paper too. I love those old maps and manuscripts from days gone by. You will be incorporating techniques to age, color and antique paper, which can be included in the journal or displayed as works of art on their own. 


Here's the full Itinerary:

Day 1
August 21 - Sunday
Welcome meeting at Art Paradise at 7 pm (light meal  and a Port Wine)
  • general information about Portugal and our program
Day 2
August 22 - Monday 
 9:30 to 12.30  - Workshop at our Studio - Pátio dos Artistas
12:30 to 3:30 -  Lunch in the centre of Cascais and visit to an old bookshop
 4:00 to 7:00 - Workshop 
8:30 - Dinner by the beach in Estoril and walk along the shore
Day 3
August 23 - Tuesday
 9:00 - Meeting at the railway station in Estoril to go to Lisbon by train (25 minutes)
10: 00 - Visit to the flea market in Lisbon where you can find all kinds of ephemera and special things for your journal.
1:00 - Lunch in Alfama, the oldest part of Lisbon, in a typical Restaurant
4:00 to 7:00 - Workshop at our Studio
8:30 - Dinner in the garden at Art Paradise (optional) / Free time 
Day 4
August 24 - Wednesday
9:30 to 12:30 - Workshop 
1:00 to 2:00 - Lunch in a local Restaurant near our studio
2:30 to 5:30 - Workshop
free time (beach or shopping)
8:30 - Dinner at a typical Restaurant
Day 5
August 25 - Thursday 
9:30 to 12.30- Workshop
12.30 . Departure to the fantasitic village of old Sintra - Horse-drawn carriage ride and visit to places of interest that are World Heritage.
Picnic in Sintra’s hills... and an adventure beginns...
8:30- ?
Day 6
August 26 - Friday
9:30 -12:30 - Workshop
1:00 -2:00 - Lunch in a local restaurant
2:30 - 5:30 - Workshop
7:30 - 12:00 pm -  Visit to the Handicrafts Fair (Feira do Artesanato) near Art Paradise- within walking distance, shopping and dinner...

Day 7
August 27 - Saturday 
9:30 - 12:30 - Workshop
1:00 - 2:00 - Lunch in a local Restaurant
2:30 - 5:30 -  Workshop
5:30 - Show and Tell
9:00 - 1:00 pm - Dinner at a typical Fado Place with guitar players and singers in Estoril

Day 8
August 28 - Sunday
10:00 - Departure to Lisbon by train
             Visit to an old stuff market place  
1:00 - 5:00 - Lunch in Belém and visit to the famous monuments: Tower of Belém, Jerónimos Monastery, Navigator’s Monument... 
Free time and start packing ...
8:30 - Farewell dinner 

Note: This program can be changed according to weather conditions or other circumstances.
 Art Paradise has another extra Studio at your disposal that you may use after dinner or anytime you feel like to do journaling or just get together.
Day 9
August 29 - Monday 
Travel day back home

5 comments:

Luthien Thye said...

oh wow!! what a fabulous itinerary!! i only wished i wasn't so far away!!!

Sarah said...

WOW!

just wow

This is where my envy kicks in towards those who can attend such workshops (I’m a single working mum, what little vacation I get from work I need to spend with my kids)…. maybe one day when they’ve all left home :)

Please promise me you will still be teaching these amazing workshops in around 16 years time!

PS I bought your new book on Saturday, am saving it for an evening where I have time to sit still for an hour or two, can’t wait!

Thespa McLaughlin said...

Looks like that's going to be a great trip. If only I owned a transporter....
Have fun! Absolutely STUNNING journal too!

Karen Wallace said...

Wonderful itinerary! Warmly, Karen

Unknown said...

looks ah-maz-ing!

not all who wander are lost, y'know :)

have fun!
xoxo
jul