I have been invited to run two of the workshops as part of the series of talk about decoloniality organised by the research group Arte, Investigación y Feminismos based at the University of the Basque Country. 

The talks are based on my artistic experience and interest plus a profound research made for this series. The first workshop that took place on the 20th of October 2020 was titled Decolonizar la naturaleza, acciones desde el territorio cuerpo-tierra (Decolonise nature, actions from the territory body-earth/soil), the second that took place on the 27th of October was titled Creación artística y diálogo de saberes, decolonizar desde el hacer “sentipensante” (Artistic creation and dialogue of knowledge, decolonise from the doing "sentipensante").

Both took place at Salón de Grados, Facultad de Bellas Artes, University of the Basque Country. 

Here some images of those gatherings which had both theory and practice. 

Materials for the sessions: 

Decolonizar la naturaleza, acciones desde el territorio cuerpo-tierra

​-Guardiana de los Ríos, documental producido por Radio Progreso y Madre Tierra Producciones, dirigido por la periodista y realizadora Jennifer Ávila. Trata sobre el legado de la lucha realizada por la líder indígena y ambientalista Berta Caceres.
- Vandana Shiva y Covid 19, un video producido por Telesur. Trata sobre aspectos vinculados a la soberanía alimentaria y otros efectos fomentados por el covid en la sociedad actual.
- Video "Mapa de voces I" editado para esta sesión: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GHAZZCx_yrE9BdN3fd9_0axShlfxMrKP

Creación artística y diálogo de saberes, decolonizar desde el hacer “sentipensante” 

-Extracto del libro Autonomía y diseño de Arturo Escobar, capítulo " Diseño para las transiciones". 
- Video "Mapa de voces II" editado para esta sesión:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sNHdHxb2Adq41KQfyQQzyYyzvh_Qm1Vt

Resiliencia artística, herramientas creativas en busca de una transformación social.
Taller dirigido por Seila Fernández Arconada.

El arte y la resiliencia se entretejen en el acto creativo. La práctica artística es una práctica resiliente en sí misma y por tanto puede ofrecer herramientas y preguntas en procesos para la transformación social. Es así que propongo una actividad que utilizando el medio virtual de una forma experimental y “experiencial” ofrezca un entorno de participación activa, inclusiva y comprometida, y así generar una reflexión conjunta por medio de la creación.

Esta invitación por tanto, pretende comenzar un camino conjunto viajando entre el pensamiento crítico y la sensorialidad, lo intangible y lo matérico, el individuo y lo colectivo, lo situado y lo global... fomentando la sensibilización y la concientización y así forjar otras formas de hacer (ser). 

​Este taller se ha creado en respuesta al programa actual de #MemorArte Fest.

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Artistic Resilience, creative tools in search of a social transformation.
Workshop directed by Seila Fernández Arconada.

Art and resilience are interwoven in the creative act. Artistic practice is a resilient practice in itself and therefore can offer tools and questions in processes for social transformation. Thus, I propose an activity that, using the virtual medium in an experimental and 'experiential' way, offers an environment of active, inclusive and committed participation, and thus generates joint reflection through creation.

This invitation, therefore, intends to start a joint journey between critical thinking and sensoriality, the intangible and the material, the individual and the collective, the situated and the global ... promoting awareness and awareness and thus forging other forms of doing (being).

This workshop has been created in response to #MemorArte Fest 2020.

Today this workshop took place, a gathering where the aim was to share artistic experiences and creative tools but also to exchange ideas arising from an invitation I made to the participants. They had the chance to get immersed in a creative process that came to them in the form of a soundscape. This piece's objective was to inspire them to feel their surroundings responding actively with a creation. Despite the virtual meeting, the encounter was very immersive with a long and deep conversation.  I would like to thank all participants for their commitment and passion. Also, I would like to thank the organisers for their trust on me and my work, it has been a real honour to participate at #MemorArte Fest 2020, gracias. 

Images of the process "Arraigo al agua" 

"Arraigo al agua" (Rooting to water) 
by Seila Fernández Arconada 

Rooting to water explores the concept of the garden as a binding element to the territory, a local identity of the Carraixet community, and not only that, agriculture is the most binding practice to the land that exists since it made humanity sedentary, ingrained becoming the root of local care.

Water is vital for the existence of this territory not only traditionally but as we know it today, its ditches are veins that interweave its human and non-human inhabitants, such as vegetables, citrus trees, etc. Climatic elements such as the "gota fría" (cold rain) or the proximity to the sea promote this symbiotic relationship.

Water, therefore, is the center of this land art intervention which consists on four sculptural pieces like totem "planted" on the ground simulating a compass that interacts with the sun just as plants do, creating dynamism in their shadows. These "totems" are made of natural materials, mainly roots and branches brought by the sea and collected in the different seas /oceans of the Iberian Peninsula.

The materials are also painted with natural dyes from local vegetables such as beets, spinach, carrots as well as citrus fruits. The installation marks a "km. 0" as the central element of this piece, the water, which is located in the center of this "wind rose" supported by a circular ceramic vessel buried in the earth showing the reflections of the landscape and its visitors.

"The artist and researcher Seila Fernández Arconada (Santander, 1986) has been selected by the jury of Km. 0 l'Horta València to carry out the work that will represent the symbolic epicenter of the city in the garden of Valencia, an initiative that seeks to highlight the value of this space as a promoter for the culture and the economy of the territory, as well as a vital element of the Valencian identity.

Specifically, the artistic intervention by Seila Fernández Arconada will consist of four sculptural pieces made with natural materials (roots and branches collected on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea) and “planted” in the ground as totems. In addition, for its decoration it will use dyes from local vegetables and citrus.

The Km. 0 l'Horta València call has been promoted by Turisme Carraixet with the support of the Diputació de València and the management of Enclave Land Art. The objective is to revitalize the towns of this community (Alfara del Patriarca, Foios, Bonrepòs i Mirambell , Vinalesa, Almàssera, Meliana and Albalat dels Sorells) as rich and sustainable proximity destinations.

*This text has been translated to english from the media publishing the selection (in Spanish and Valencian originally) sources here:

www.lavanguardia.com/local/valencia/20201001/483774715792/la-artista-seila-fernandez-arconada-creara-el-kilometro-0-de-la-huerta.html
https://valenciaextra.com/seila-fernandez-arconada-creara-kilometro-0-de-la-huerta/
https://www.europapress.es/comunitat-valenciana/noticia-artista-seila-fernandez-arconada-creara-kilometro-huerta-valencia-20201001102202.html
www.losojosdehipatia.com.es/exposiciones/la-artista-seila-fernandez-arconada-creara-el-kilometro-0-de-valencia-en-la-huerta/
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With the project #EstudioFlotante, cuando el río suena a Amazonas, I am looking for collaborators based at the Iberian Peninsula originally from the Amazonian territory. 
More info about the project: ​www.estudioflotante.art.blog/

These images show some of the field work done in Campoo by the "mediation" team, including myself and the artist Nacho Zubelzu. This work is framed in Rural Experimenta II. It has been a real pleasure to collaborate with all in particular to my team partner and La Ortiga Colectiva. 

For more information: Cultura y Ciudadanía

I would like to share this blog of the research team I am part of "Art, research and feminism" which is based at the University of the Basque Country. 

Here you can find more information about it: 
https://investigacionarteyfeminismos.wordpress.com/