earthen masonry + strength in numbers + cultural arts
Our Vision
The vision is to cultivate a "festive earthen building culture" that blends the construction sciences with the cultural performing arts. Fun events that are also meaningful engage community members and give them a strong sense of belonging to place and ownership in their public structures which they help create..
Construction
We deliver engineer certified structures that are functional, artistic, one of a kind, and hand made- for and by the community. We are looking for those involved in or planning to build new structures -especially small to medium projects such as an outdoor kitchen, covered outdoor learning area, (COLA) cubby house, classroom or multipurpose space. We invite builders, architects, engineers and construction companies to join us in creating a greater sense of ownership in the completed structure and more educational opportunities along the way. Including us as a partner can strengthen your tender especially for building structures that will fill a community or educational purpose. We can attract funding specifically earmarked for construction new structures.
Cultural arts, performing arts, art, design
Our approach uses the "science of art" to draw people in and inspire them to feel comfortable about themselves and their community, find common ground, feel a sense of the strength of numbers and the greater good. Our approach elevates and expands the purpose of art and culture beyond the realm of entertainment and into the functionality of providing shelter. Our approach uses art to expand the reach, the depth and breadth of construction. Our approach creates appreciation, recognition and reward to artists for their contributions towards construction and the finished structure. We invite musicians, choreographers, dancers, artists, designers, gardeners, chefs and servers and creative thinkers to join us. We can attract pools of funding where the goal is developing art and culture.
Education
Our approach creates a range of educational outcomes including music, science, art, maths, history, culture, English and more. Students can be involved in every step of the project and the associated events from design to completion -from foundation to finishing. A project can present a challenge to a group of students to develop their leadership and communication skills, and or provide hands on learning opportunities or work-like experiences. A project can meet a number of curriculum goals across multiple subjects. Educators of all kinds and their supporters are welcome to join this space to apply their skills and experiences towards creating project based learning opportunities for their students and the field of education. We can attract pools of funding where the goal is to develop and improve the student and or the place of learning.
Community organising
Our approach provides opportunities for community engagement around a construction project. Similar to the sponsors, audience members, cast and crew of a performing arts production, our process draws in all elements of the community for inclusion to become aligned to your organisation’s cause. This includes seniors, toddlers, local businesses, and community groups. We can attract various pools of funding and sponsorship dollars where the goal is social inclusion.
Pioneers
We are pioneering new ground and seeking those whose ideas are not too rigidly formed or shaped by our norms and those who are actively looking for better ways to do things. We are looking for people able to see how all the various separate components of our communities operating in isolation can fit together for the greater good. Pioneers have to be bold and courageous and yet also humble enough to know that sensitivity will be needed to break new ground. We are looking for those with vision, caring and responsibility, and who believe in the power of broad diversity and bringing all relevant perspectives to the table. We are seeking those who are able to see the benefit of proposing solutions and identifying allies to the cause rather than protesting wrongs and pointing out so called enemies and those who understand the importance of completion. For example, saving the world is a noble cause but is it one that you and your team can successfully achieve and be able to celebrate your success with? We are seeking those who recognise that the journey will not be completely easy and will not be without struggle which sets up realistic expectations. The struggle is threefold: personal, interpersonal and global. This is not a masochistic need for pain, it is understanding that there will be effort required and a kind of pain resulting, as in exercise or stretching.
Festive Earthen Masonry Vision, many have gathered, creating a public spectacle around a large mud pit during the warm weather season. With colourful, hand-sewn flags flying high above, and the smell of food wafting in the air, a choreographed, theatrical, barefoot, clay-mud stomping dance is performed in the pit, in front of an audience, to the rhythm of live drums and acoustic music. The audience is invited to leave their seats and join in, and the dance becomes a production line which leaves many clay-mud bricks, made by hand with local materials, lying there, drying in the sun. After the applause, everyone is mingling. Some performers are soaking their feet in water, others can’t stay out of the mud, while others are serving or being served food and refreshments and learning more about the program and its upcoming activities. Once the bricks are dried, they will be used to build a strong, artistic, functional, architecturally engineered community structure around other similar interactive, festive building events.
Once the structure is completed, the community has gained confidence to engage more people in the same way. Youth have been trained to take leadership roles throughout the process and a festive earthen building “culture” develops that mixes the performing arts with the building sciences through the lens of youth.