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Questions and reflections by Maria Bakari
~ Ideas for the IMPERISHABLE WATERS CATALOGUE ~
1. Reflecting to the headlines & titles:
Inclusive of all issues, embracing many dimensions including the scientific, the artistic and social angles of approach... The water present as a life element, as a metaphor... The titles reflect much of our experience as a task force exploring all these aspects and act as focal points for structuring this experience and narrating the story in a systematic, yet flexible way... Deeper reflections can be concentrated in the following questions:
• The purpose of the catalogue and its content: How do they match, dance and elaborate the work?
• What are the foreseeable uses of the catalogue?
• How can these themes serve the future, i.e. education, learning, the next phase of this project and similar projects?
• The catalogue as an “aesthetic product” & the catalogue as a guide...
• How does the flow of the text feel?
• What's the transparency of this tool of learning? Does it reflect back all that there is?
• What is the core message of this piece of work to Rhodes and the world?
• What is the audience/ who are the people/readers that this catalogue wants to reach?
Generally:
I loved the width and diversity that the topics are touching up and I sense it will be a beautiful piece of work and its power and beauty will enhance the quality and impact of this project.
1~3 ideas to elaborate on each chapter:
1. The origins of Water:
• Water in its symbolic essence: Mythological links, rituals, the catharsis/ cleansing concept...
• Water as a source of inspiration
2. Living with Water:
• Resources from the notion of landscape
• Inland areas & coast line
• Living inside and around of freshwater
3. Saving a drop of Water
• Wise economy ~ sustainable living
• Consumption & Tourism : Green passport & water management
• The story of a raindrop...
4. Wet~Lands use
• The wetlands of Rhodes
• Architecture of the small scale ~ models of good practice from our tradition and innovation around the world...
5. Nets and Networking:
• Synergy in all disciplines linked to water management ~ synergy as the approach for solutions
• Networking for action and learning...
• Education as the teacher of Life...
• Art in praise of the life giving powers of water at the same time as its preservation. The cultural dimension as a revival force for the landscape.
(4 topics here... :)
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"If the group is an art form of the future, then convening groups is an
artistry we must cultivate to fully harvest the promise of the future."
- Jacob Needleman, Centred on the Edge
The Open Question of Development
Perhaps the most obvious question marks about this issue are the following:
- How can we ensure sustainability in a rapidly developing world?
- How can development respect natural resources?
- What are the wise implementations of development?
- How can development be synonymous to growth at all human levels: spiritual, cultural, economic etc?...
In my view all above questions rely heavily on the human factor. People hold the solutions and in order to activate these solutions a new consciousness must arise...
“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created them.”
~ Albert Einstein
The key to reaching this level of awareness, the awareness that sees human beings as part of the greater whole, in unity and co~evolution with the whole, is learning. A new learning that puts the focus on the richness of our potential... that illuminates the leadership hidden in every single human being and empowers that connection with the deeper connection which is aligned with the natural living systems. Nature herself can, thus, teaches us this with simplicity, magnificence and life~long impact. If we could only listen! Hence a great part of this educational work that needs to take place in our society in order to enable our sustainability mindset and practice is to do with cultivating listening: Listening to self, listening to others, listening to nature and the whole... realising the interconnectedness, the interdependence of all species and actions in our planet. Nothing is of less importance; everything is vital for Life...
There are certain models of viewing life that provide an excellent platform for this type of learning. Two examples are
a) The Living Systems Theory and
b) The Presenting Theory.
These theories, which have recently emerged in our Creative Societies along with various schemes of Network Learning, illustrate the way humans in line with Nature can shift their reality by enhancing new consciousness through open mind, open heart and open will. Perhaps this is not the space to talk about this in details, but I would like to stress the significance of tapping into innovation and extraordinary new, groundbreaking (although many times enriched by ancient wisdom, too) frameworks of education and learning serving sustainability.
In this context, participation, experiential methodologies, especially in their grace as forms integrated into the arts play a crucial, instrumental role.
Unless you co~create you are not fully engaged in any process. Unless involved you cannot protect... The educational models that were/are based in the dry process of teaching without interaction cannot serve the purpose of active citizenship, individual and collective responsibility. Everybody has a voice and all voices are equal and important ~ all contributing to full perspectives, unique offers to the collective evolution. And they should be encouraged.
“Only together we are wise.”
~Margaret Wheatley.
Art can be a beautiful tool AND learning destination in our communities. The relationship between art and social change is key. The underlying quality, skill that is the instrument for self~awareness, self~esteem, value and growth is creativity.
Art holds transformational and inspirational power ~ this motivates people and through art people can see their communities and life with new eyes.
Hosted in safe as well as empowering learning spaces, people can be transformed into change catalysts that care and act for the improvement of their lives and the common good. Water resources, wetlands being a crucial part of the sustainability question could be one piece that can benefit immediately from this type of new approach of social learning and consciousness shift. For they are asking for immediate action, immediate care ~ especially in our islands unique context.
It is therefore of highly significant to join forces and co~create these learning spaces where people can meet with/in their humanity, authenticity and interconnectedness with nature, be empowered, release their creativity, discover their personal leadership and join it to the collective one that is called forth and commit to sustainable change. This: creating vibrant learning spaces is an art in its own right.
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