INSIDEOUT Project

While down here, I’ve participated in a fair amount of awesome projects and inspiring initiatives. But what I  participated in last week was by far the most creative (in the artistic sense of the word), and the most fun. But what I want to focus on is the creative side. I’ve consider myself a creative person when it comes to problem solving and perspective; seeing things differently and using them in a way their not intended to, to satisfy a different need. But artistically, I got nothing, which is why I was so pumped to be asked to help out with INSIDEOUT project.

INSIDEOUT (insideoutproject.net) is a photography project at a world-wide level, with the intention of exposing the issues, problems, and message of the common person using blown up (3 by 4 ½ ft) photos and posting them in public spaces, as well as trying to inspire creativity and street art at a world wide level. The project was started by a French graffiti artist who goes by JR, who after presenting at the innovation conference TED Talks (http://www.ted.com/, which you should all totally take a look at it), won their grand prize to make his dream a reality. After a few months, there are now literally hundreds of initiatives or actions as they’re referred to, all over the world. For those of you in the NYC area, you may have noticed the photos of over Time Square. That is an example of an INSIDEOUT action, and take a look at the website to find the action nearest you, as well as hear JR talk about his idea. And the best part is, anyone can apply for it. So when two of my volunteer friends heard about it in January, they wasted no time in reaching out to JR and the INSIDEOUT team.

Our Boss!

Each action has their own theme, rallying behind an idea of the organizers of the local action. Our idea was double pronged. First, we wanted to present to the Nicaraguan village who the real leaders of the community are: the women. Because it’s the woman who in most cases take care of the family, raise the kids, and manage the household money. Second, we wanted to pay tribute to the women who have positively affected our experience and lives while living in Nicaragua the past two years. So seven of us reached out to our host moms, friends, counterparts, and their kin to participate in the project. In the end 47 women participated in the project, including my host mother and sister from Niquinohomo and my host mother from Villa el Carmen.

Two worlds collide: My host mother from Niquinohomo on the left and Illa el Karmen on the Right

Helping to Paste her photo

Me and my ma!

 Now if you were going to pay tribute to the women and mothers of Nicaragua, what could be the best day to it? The Nicaraguan Mothers Day of course, which is exactly what we did. Now not to offend any mothers back at home, but Mothers Day here is huge…school is canceled and most business close. 40 of the 47 women attended the event, and we spent the entire morning posting prints on predetermined buildings in Granada (using wheat paste), and celebrated our beloved “mothers” with an all-expense paid for lunch and flowers. Ma, had I been home, you can bet I would’ve done the exact same thing for you! And those 7 that didn’t come lived too far away, or were way too old…like 92 or 93 years old. The youngest girls participating were only about 18 months old, and in some cases we had 4 generations of women from the same family participating! The Ambassador herself came to help out, as well as the Peace Corps country director!  To really see what the event like take a look at the photos on the book: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.665053855175.1073741827.59401052&type=3 And a shout out to Kacie Gartland for taking all the great photos!

The project got national press, as it was featured in the countries two main papers, as well as featured in an international travel blog: http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/globalsnapshots/2013/06/02/inspired-by-the-women-of-nicaragua-an-inside-out-project-by-peace-corps-volunteers/

For more info about JR and his work, follow the link here: https://www.artsy.net/artist/jr

Me and volunteers who put it all together

Some local supporters! I guess the guy on the left was none too impressed!

 Now as I mentioned, I hadn’t considered myself a creative person artistically, but this project opened my eyes. I now find myself pretty fascinated by street art, and the idea of experimenting with it. Graffiti doesn’t interest me as much as the medium we used, being paper prints, pasted using wheat paste (which is a combination of flour, sugar, and water). Seeing as I’m leaving Villa el Carmen in just about a month from now, I’m now considering leaving behind a couple of extra souvenirs around town, as well as markers on my travels home. The only thing I’m debating about is my design…I’ll let you all know when I come up with something. And as for a tag name, what do you all think about S’uel? Any other suggestions?