Arts Lab 5.0: Carla Ditmeyer, Bolivia - Month 2

This is the second month in this project and it’s almost scary how I don’t want the time to pass by.

After the first exhibition for the Alternative Museum of Folklore, it felt surreal how we managed to do everything on time. I saw everyone stressed and working day and night to make the project possible, so I hope people enjoyed the moment.

I feel a bit exhausted but overall inspired since the second theme for the Alternative Museum is Cucuteni. We started our second residency that I did in collaboration with Dajana and honestly, we had a lot of good times. We combined natural arts made with elements like stones and sticks to paint them with Cucuteni Symbols. We unified all the painted and created elements to form a décor for a short film that will be focused visually on the archetypes of menstrual cycle and fertility which was so venerated in Cucuteni Culture. 

Working with Dajana was very fun. We were already close before, but after passing some stressing moments, maybe disagreements and the fact of searching sooo many sticks and stones (a lot), made me feel closer with her and know not only her friend side but also a side of an artistic collaboration that I thank so much that it happened. Also, to mention and thank the family of a little beautiful girl called Maria. They gave us an important part of the materials, a lot of wood but specially a warm welcome into their home, gave us delicious “tei’ tea, honey and a very nice Romanian desert. We thank that family from the bottom of our hearts and their hospitality that reveals what an amazing community Târgu Frumos has. 

Overall, a very fun experience, challenging of course but in general very cool. We also traveled to Suceava with the team, and I still want to express how thankful I feel for getting to know these people each day even more. 

In terms of art, creating the film for Cucuteni makes me very happy and excited to see how far creativity and a vision can go. 

Right now, we are in our first Caravan in Moldova. I’m currently finishing this report in a wonderful hotel that looks like a folklore museum on itself. I just cannot wait to still discover and get amazed by beautiful places and especially beautiful souls. The workshop part continues being challenge for sure, but we will see what can I do to solve this issue.

Carla Wara Ditmeyer Queteguari is from Bolivia, and she is participating in a six-month volunteering program within Arts Lab 5.0, a project co-funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps.