|
"Tangled Ecologies, Fragile Futures" by Seila Fernández Arconada June 2025. at the Uzh River, Uzhhorod (Ukraine) An artistic contribution for RUTA conference 2025: "Imagination: New Visions and Connections" organised by RUTA Association, international research group focusing on Eastern European, Baltic, Caucasus, Central and Northern Asian Studies. Curator: Maya Hayda Photos by Andrii Steburako and Oleksii Minko  “Tangled Ecologies, Fragile Futures” is a performative collective encounter where sonic entanglements unleash participatory creations. By drawing upon interconnectedness, this “in between space” emphasises relational questions where the delicate vibrant balance of the planet merge with the consequences when disruption takes place. Departing from the poetic-political connections with the Uzh River and travelling to the Dnipro River, we explored socio ecological uncertainties in times of russian full scale invasion of Ukraine by using our “body of water” to listen deeply to the river’s testimony and sense of grief, to reimagine our humans’ connections while reflecting on ecosocial justice. This space is an invitation to create together from embodied fragilities while mapping signs of trauma, grief and healing on our bodies of water. This artistic contribution comes from the ongoing project "Dnipro River: Ecosocial Belonging in Wartime"      Acknowledgments:
Thank you to all who took part on this artistic contribution, to RUTA conference organising team for selecting the project and allowing me to exchange in such vibrant meaningful research community. To Oleksii Minko and Maya Hayda for the support and care, to the Uzh River for receiving us with this space and the many people who is taking part on the project "Dnipro River: Ecosocial Belonging in Wartime" Thank you to all the people I met during the intense time at the conference, all the rich discussions about challenging complex research that contribute to tackle difficult topics on times we are living on. Thanks to all whose work is committed to justice and the defence of human and nature rights, thanks to those who defend and protect Ukraine, without them this event wouldn't have been able to take place, as it happened in a war zone, where air raid sirens where active during the time of the conference.
0 Comments
 "UNLEASH YOUR ARTISTIC POTENTIAL" Artistic Mentoring and Art-Therapy. Individual face-to-face sessions in Berlin from 1st to 7th of July. "UNLEASH YOUR ARTISTIC POTENTIAL" is an special opportunity for you to engage with a tailored individual 2 hours session or series of sessions to support your creative wishes and needs offered face-to-face in Berlin (or online internationally). SPECIAL SUMMER PRICE: 100 euros (The two hours individual session which integrates: materials, tailored previous communication/preparation and the extra time invested in meeting in the particular location face to face, within Ring Bahn ideally). LIMITED SPACES, AVAILABLE UNTIL FULLY BOOKED. Register via > [email protected]  I am Seila Fernández Arconada, an internationally experienced artist-practitioner with over a decade of expertise in diverse forms of artistic practices as well as training courses for adults and youngsters (children and teenagers) in formal and non formal education with a vast experience on art therapy and trauma-informed practices.I am passionate about empowering individuals, just like you, to discover your full artistic potential. How can I help you? For Emerging Artists (or wishing to be one) Personalised Coaching and Mentoring:Personalised guidance to help you: - Refine your artistic vision and identity. -Improve your conceptual approaches and techniques. -Build a strong portfolio and online presence. -Overcome creative blocks and gain confidence. -Experiment with different approaches and techniques. -Develop a unique artistic voice. -Gain more knowledge on artistic practices that can inspire yours, from traditional to contemporary. -Feel supported and safe while developing your artistic professional approach together. For Non-Artists Interested in Creating(adults and youngsters: children and teenagers) A Safe and Supportive Creative Space:Explore your creativity in a welcoming and encouraging environment where: -You will express yourself freely without judgment but encouragement. -You will be fluidly growing enhancing your creativity while supported in overcoming creative blocks. -You will learn from seen yourself in the creations serving as a mirror of self discovery. Artistic Exploration and Personal Growth:Discover the therapeutic benefits of Artistic tools as a form of: -Self-expression and emotional release, not only as a form of stress reduction and relaxation but a way to be mindful and present-moment awareness. -Personal growth and transformation by increasing your self-esteem while enhancing a sense of purpose and meaning which increases adaptability and resilience. -Connect with your inner self and express your authentic voice, developing a deeper knowledge about yourself and your needs. -Healing from trauma or difficult experiences. It is hard to understand emotions, therefore other ways of expressing allow unconsciousness to be aware of such processes. Practical Skills and Techniques: we will focus in different artistic techniques and skills, such as: drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, creative writing, digital art, journaling, community-based art initiatives... techniques are part of the journey from a confort zone to unknown potential artistic exploration and will be developed according to your interests. Imagination and playfulness for youngsters (children and teenagers) as well as adults. In times of exhaustion for the rapid lifestyle as well as the complex ecosocial crisis we are living the space for playfulness and imagination is crucial to overcome anxieties about the present and future scenarios. Languages: Spanish as mother tongue, proficiency in English language . More.Information> https://www.eventbrite.de/e/unleash-your-artistic-potential-mentoring-art-therapy-individual-sessions-tickets-1424658063619?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl https://calendly.com/mentoring-art-therapy/berlin_individual_artmentoring_arttherapy_sessions Facebook: https://fb.me/e/4M1R2Sfcv There's a unique magic in coming to a place called home, especially when "home" is the village that shaped you as a person. Even after two decades away, stepping back onto those familiar streets, hearing the distinct accent, seeing familiar faces who spark memories, brings me a profound sense of belonging. This past week has been an extraordinary journey back to those roots, culminating in the immense honor of having been chosen the "pregonera" for our village's annual celebration. "Pregonero/a" is the person who gives a public speech to the community in other to inaugurate the annual celebration. However, it was more than just giving an opening speech, it has truly been a unique space for reconnecting while weaving together the threads of our community. Preparing for it, brought back many memories and that is how I began the speech: in my childhood. That place where I learnt the "sense of (ecosocial) belonging", to the community, the territory and the ecosystem. By engaging with play in such collective space, with all the kids, having the freedom to explore what "rural" means while enforcing curiosity in every corner of the neighbourhood. The echoes of those moments still resonate comforting rhythm of daily life that once defined my world. Adding to that, I acknowledge the privilege to have learnt how to love the mountains that embrace this valley and all its natural ecosystem, this is the reason why I keep genuinely and openly engaged in the defence of the natural world, in the village and all the work I can do wherever I am. During this speech there was a lot about ecosocial justice, otherwise it wouldn't be me. This situation reminded me that community isn't just about continuous physical presence; it's about shared sense of belonging and how we engage with each other. This is a very important concept in my artistic practice since many years, and with this speech I realised how much I learnt it in this tinny village called San Felices de Buelna.   Photos from the day of the "pregón" Beyond the main celebration, I had the incredible opportunity to speak with the kids at my old primary school "Colegio Público Pero Niño". Sharing stories of my artistic path that took me to many unpredicted places and situations was very special giving the possibility to learn that Art is much more than decoration, it can be a life long process of in-depth research with possibilities to generate something anew, it is a way of being and experiencing the world. This process of remembering and building up community has been incredibly moving. To all who came, who listened, who shared with me, and who helped make this celebration happen, gracias.
 Photos with the primary school "Colegio Público Pero Niño"
Some visual glimpses from the residency I undertook at UNIDEE guided by Susanne Bosch while deepening into "Ways of Practicing Conviviality: the artist as Host" More information> "Ways of Practicing Conviviality: the Artist as Host" 
  Photos by Clopy
 This gathering aims to provide a space for dialogue on solidarity strategies with the struggles for justice and human rights, self-determination, and the freedom of peoples in the context of Palestine and Ukraine. This is an article based on an interview about the latest projects I have been working on in Ukraine and the next steps in further collaborations. El Diario Montañés is a local newspaper in Cantabria, Spain.  During April, I had the privilege of mentoring on the Art Therapy Force project, joining a unique interdisciplinary team that explore diverse applications of art therapy. In the “Kids Art Retreat”, we worked directly with 45 children aged 10-17 from communities near the front line in Ukraine.
This collaboration with Art Therapy Force and my participation in the Kids Art Retreat took place thanks to support from Vidnova program. More info: https://vidnova.org/ For it, I offered a series of situated artistic methods as shared multisensorial activities. The core was to weave bonds as forms of (re)connecting to “natural (Nature) belonging” with especial attention to water bodies on us and around us. This art therapy method has its pilars on the intersections between ecology, decolonial perspectives and trauma informed practices. Activities took place outdoors integrating walking, sensing and experimenting from individual to collaborative multidisciplinary spaces including drawing, sound and performance. Thank you to Art Therapy Force team for this experience, I felt at home integrating my expertise as mentor with the other amazing mentors and coordinators. All those kids coming from areas near the front line deserved this and more. For all the learning, the creations together, the laughter and tears, all was important part of this process, Дякую! Here you can see some visual glimpses of this collective journey documented beautifully by Nelli Mynasova. “Art Therapy Force”, aims to institutionalise and spread work methods with the psycho-emotional health recovery through creative and art practices with children, adolescents, students, volunteers, and veterans. More info about the Kids Art Retreat: https://artherapyforce.com.ua/en/project/kids-s-art-retreat-projects-en/ #Arttherapy #ArtCollaboration #Ukraine #Arttherapyforce #Traumainformedpractice #KidsArtRetreat #workshops Here you can see a video documenting part of the process of the Kids Art Retreat of the project Art Therapy Force where I have been one of the mentors recently. Thanks to all the kids, coordinators and mentors of this project. Thanks again to Vidnova Program for supporting this collaboration.   Se ha publicado el programa del proyecto "Prácticas Artísticas para la renovación ecosocial" un taller que impartiré en la serie de cursos de verano de la Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo en Santander (Cantabria, España).
Actualmente este curso está abierto a inscripciones y HOY 25 de Abril es el último día para aplicar a una beca! Enlaces con más información y convocatoria en comentarios! Comparte a quien pudiera estar interesadx! Gracias! Descripción de la actividad: "Prácticas Artísticas para la renovación ecosocial" Las prácticas artísticas generan espacios permeables de diálogo transversal y creación colectiva que van más allá de los museos y galerías para adentrarse a otros mundos. Desde el arte comunitario a las colaboraciones entre arte y ciencia, las metodologías artísticas se han tejido en un mundo transdisciplinar, donde su entendimiento ofrece otras formas de entender el arte y su potencial. Este taller busca aportar una visión sobre las prácticas artísticas centrado en el proceso, en cómo el arte se puede tejer con otras disciplinas (incluyendo las científicas), en cómo las prácticas artísticas ofrecen otras metodologías y lenguajes para el entendimiento del pasado, presente y futuro. Ejes temáticos: - Prácticas artísticas actuales, desde la experiencia de la artista hacia un viaje entre formas de hacer en el arte (eco)socialmente comprometido. - Colaboraciones entre arte, ciencia y comunidad sobre incertidumbres ecosociales contemporáneas. - Prácticas artísticas, trauma y salud mental. - Diálogo de saberes, experimentación artística situada. El programa se organiza en una semana integrando ponencias, debates y actividades prácticas para crear de forma individual y colectiva. Este taller está dirigido a personas interesadas en el tema, con o sin experiencia en la práctica artística ya que se busca generar diálogos transdisciplinares, se espera motivación para participar en las actividades."  Convocatoria abierta para el taller "Prácticas Artísticas para la renovación ecosocial" que impartiré en la serie de cursos de verano de la Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo en Santander (Cantabria, España).
Actualmente este curso está abierto a inscripciones y hasta el 25 de Abril se puede aplicar a beca para cursarlo!! Enlaces con más información y convocatoria en comentarios! Comparte a quien pudiera estar interesadx! Gracias! Descripción de la actividad: "Prácticas Artísticas para la renovación ecosocial" Las prácticas artísticas generan espacios permeables de diálogo transversal y creación colectiva que van más allá de los museos y galerías para adentrarse a otros mundos. Desde el arte comunitario a las colaboraciones entre arte y ciencia, las metodologías artísticas se han tejido en un mundo transdisciplinar, donde su entendimiento ofrece otras formas de entender el arte y su potencial. Este taller busca aportar una visión sobre las prácticas artísticas centrado en el proceso, en cómo el arte se puede tejer con otras disciplinas (incluyendo las científicas), en cómo las prácticas artísticas ofrecen otras metodologías y lenguajes para el entendimiento del pasado, presente y futuro. Ejes temáticos: - Prácticas artísticas actuales, desde la experiencia de la artista hacia un viaje entre formas de hacer en el arte (eco)socialmente comprometido. - Colaboraciones entre arte, ciencia y comunidad sobre incertidumbres ecosociales contemporáneas. - Prácticas artísticas, trauma y salud mental. - Diálogo de saberes, experimentación artística situada. El programa se organiza en una semana integrando ponencias, debates y actividades prácticas para crear de forma individual y colectiva. Este taller está dirigido a personas interesadas en el tema, con o sin experiencia en la práctica artística ya que se busca generar diálogos transdisciplinares, se espera motivación para participar en las actividades." |
