By Yu-Ting 淯婷 (“來去鄉下住一個月” Volunteer)

擁擠的車潮，悠遊卡快沒錢的逼逼兩聲
濕悶的空氣，氣象報告說這是一波最新的梅雨鋒面
Skype剛剛問我要不要更新，連著幾天破了好幾關Candy crush
前老闆密我幾個案子款項的問題，即使我沒有義務要回答他
是的，我回到台北了

成龍村的片段還有些在腦子裡面
有些在手上的小傷口
有些在放著不想整理的照片堆中
有些在遺失的物品裡 (我的小綠折傘好像就被遺忘了)

如果說這次藝術季的主題是桌面上、檯面上、光明的，我忘了那份限量的簡介還有什麼其他的介紹
但我想在這背後
就是會有那麼一群人或是一些事情是在桌面下、看不到的、忙忙碌碌的、不在那份型錄上頭的

─在茶水間拿了零食趁我還能提早收工的時候一邊看著夕陽發呆一邊吃著菜圃餅。

─是吃不到郭子媽親手料理的烏魚子炒飯滋味，稍晚進廚房發卻發現有剩下，可惜卻再也吃不下了窘迫。(回家我也請我媽炒了一大盤，但總有些許失落)

─也可能是專注的綁著繩子卻有一堆輕佻觀光客叫你把頭抬起來並且微笑給她們拍照一般，我很收斂的沒有舉起國際通用手勢，只低頭繼續綁那該死的第455個繩結。

─也可以是村民問起這案子的上百萬執行費，我笑著搖頭回說：我只是個分文未取的志工，不清楚呢。

─或是半夜在三合院，工作人員默默的把椅子排好然後隔天上午又被拿起用來吃早餐，眾人外出工作後她們又默默的排好一般有條不紊。

─還有工作人員們人機一體或蹲或站以拍攝水鳥獵捕瞬間的姿態，紀錄充滿汗血地藝術季活動的使命感(是說，哪個志工/藝術家沒流血呢？)

─或是諄諄教誨的二年級導師精心規劃小朋友的時間與協助藝術家與我來完成跟小朋友共度的短暫又美好的小小時光。

─也可以是村民們真切熱忱的想盡力幫忙什麼，但我們卻難以囑咐手上的工作給她們，只好請她們幫我們修腳踏車之類的。當然洗洞以及整理繩子的幫忙實在是太重要了，收繩還是小朋友發現的好方法。

如果要問那個回答到爛的問題：你為什麼會來報名呢？
我的目的只是認識新朋友
在日暮下
在微風之上
在竹林中
在墳墓之前
踏在泥濘的溼地土裡
我也會記得
小朋友不照黑板上的內容自己決定要畫的畫
以及那個叫做凱利的女孩給的小卡片中歪歪斜斜卻深刻的字
早上大太陽下午下大雨的或是相反過來令人哭笑不得的天氣
有著綠色/紅色海藻/水草蔓延成的超現實溼地
挑戰腳踏車載物的極限─扛了梯子還要拿壞掉的鏟子跟挖洞的鐵工具
老闆用草莓厚片與咖啡開始的早晨
用台灣啤酒以及八卦結束的一天
行程滿檔難以擠出自己的時間，我的室友卻仍然可以每天寫日記
手上的淤青怎樣都不會好的日子
在一堆忘記意義的笑聲中

度過我意義非凡的二十幾天

by Julia 品君  (“來去鄉下住一個月” volunteer)

和你們告別後，我就一路哭著回家。

台北細細灰濛濛的雨和下班擁擠的車潮都令我困惑不已。我還在想著那塊土地，猖狂的風，炙熱的陽，泥濘的土壤。

愛笑的人們。

把那時每天的行程，再想一遍。

早晨所有人安靜下來聽天氣預報，總有人煮好咖啡，或者，總有人在等待煮好的咖啡，烤箱的叮噹聲像指針彈進整點，我們裝滿水瓶，修剪指甲，空氣裡飄散的防曬乳氣味混著海洋，轉角坐著一整個夏天等著被發現。一整群的魚兒滑出紅色的大門，在各自的處所奮力工作，或者像小豬在泥巴裡打滾。正午去學校裡吃營養午餐，孩子會過來嬉鬧，對著我喊：女神卡卡！

在高溫裡望著晃晃蕩蕩的景色，Johan會坐在三合院的屋簷下打瞌睡，當我從房裡出來被亮晶晶的光曬的瞳孔縮小而瞇著眼，Giorgio仿佛怕驚醒萬物般輕聲地說，裡面還剩著一些咖啡。

下午，我們繼續工作。鋸竹子，綁竹子，敲竹子，劈竹子，後來飯桌上出現竹筍我們都要鬼叫，或者開玩笑說運幾隻熊貓來把這些竹子都吃掉。和騎摩托車的阿伯擦肩而過時，他笑著對我大喊：妳怎麼還這麼白。

再幾天吧，再過幾天我就要曬成和你們一樣的膚色。撞出幾塊淤青，擦出幾塊血痕，每天總有新的小傷口被我們搜集著，像生命有時挫折。

等夕陽讓我們停下工作，每一天傍晚都被震懾在那片斑斕的燦爛裡，我們站在那，讓五彩絢麗的光芒曬進眼眸，從此記憶裡將有一塊光景，永世不得崩壞。

然後我們又像魚兒一般游回去晚餐。圓桌上揮動的手腳，打賭今晚的湯裡放的是青木瓜還是冬瓜，Michael指著仙草湯問那黑黑一條一條的是什麼，我就說是甜甜的蛇，你應該試試看很好喝。

回到三合院說話，交換片單或書單，為了Cult片的定義爭論不休，他們會告訴我荷索，費里尼，拉斯馮提爾，班雅明，羅蘭巴特…所有我心愛的導演和知識份子。我沒有說我養著一隻貓咪就叫桑塔格。或者在寢室裡和所有共犯笑的超大聲，即使很久以後的我們根本不記得那樣笑著為什麼。只記得“是我的，是我的，三商巧福。”

褲子如果沒有乾，我親愛的你們就會溫柔又美好的說：我還有一件褲子。於是每一次摔倒在泥巴裡，事情總沒有那麼糟。

每一天醒來，都感覺自己像一整片森林般健康的綠著。

我以為我們是勇者把全身弄得痠痛，為了一件值得去做的好事。但真正的勇者是他們。與鹹水共存，也許是亙古以前傳說中的洪水，人們為亡者流過眼淚。這塊土地便一直這般的鹹著。我想起第一天剛到時，聽他們介紹這塊土地聽得我心臟酸酸的。

“他們覺得這塊地沒用了，沒有價值了。”可是事情不會錯的。所有事物的存在都是對的，妳很美，很好，永遠都值得被人好好珍惜與對待。

為了這塊土地而無比認真地努力，用鹹水養殖，我們不要再抽地下水了，但是大家都說不可能啊，不行啊，沒辦法的啦。但我們還是來做做看吧。如果成功養出好吃又鮮美健康的魚，那我們就可以說：這些魚是完全沒有抽地下水養出來的哦。沒有造成環境負擔。

她們那麼開朗地笑著說，就好像真的不會失敗。

大家一起在村子裡看場地的那天，大人載著孩子經過我們，孩子害羞地舉起手說，Hello，Jane就微微笑著隨口說，村子這幾年好多了，剛開始他們不習慣我們，外國人來到這裡走來走去的，你知道，他們有些人可能一生都沒有看過外國人，但幾年下來，他們慢慢習慣我們每年在固定的時間都會來，在這段時間，帶著一些外國人，一些異地的年輕人，住上一陣子，在村子裡走來走去，和他們打招呼，創作藝術作品。

他們後來會期待我們來。

天使們啊，常常都不知道自己做了什麼。種子種進心裡，孩子開始長大，那麼多看來徒勞無功的事，最終一定會開始收成的。

幫國峻老師的魚下水那天，我們班最皮的男生阿汝在我身邊跳來跳去的，他的奶奶一直對著他喊，不要靠水那麼近，他則在我身邊不斷問我，妳在這邊做什麼，我也要幫忙，我們做的魚掛上去了嗎，怎麼掛的，Johan呢，這裡看得到Johan的作品嗎，然後他突然問我：你們什麼時候走。

我輕聲地說，下禮拜一啊。而那天是禮拜三。

上一秒還嘻嘻鬧鬧的他，突然望向遠方被夕陽曬的亮晶晶的水面，不敢看著我的眼，仿佛我眼裡有著讓他害怕的東西。

一會兒，才靜靜地說，“那麼快哦。”語氣淡得像不小心長大的孩子，稚氣的童音卻好像藏在蒼老的魂魄裡。暖暖的光照著他黝黑的臉龐發亮。

“妳想看我打水漂嗎？”他撿起一顆漂亮扁平的石頭，滑向水面。我像那安靜的水面被水漂一次一次的震盪而過，石頭最後沈入水底，像一湖靈魂吞下告別時的傷心。事事最終都會沈入心底的。

其實我多麼知道，好幾年後，這整個村子都會忘記自己。一批一批的人們，每年重新來到這裡，讓他們開心。男孩啊，有一天，你會長成男人，那時，你還會記得我嗎？記得有一年的春天，乍暖還寒，我們笑著一起做魚。

離去的前一晚，在回三合院的路燈下遇見老芋仔，他停下機車和我聊起天來，我們聊著魚塭和隔天火葬場的抗議，臨走前他對我說，你們明天走嘛，也許我們再也不會見面了。你們也不會再回來。

我曾經旅行遠方，面對來來去去的旅人們，我總是跟自己說好好喜歡每個來到妳面前的人吧，這個早晨坐在妳對面和妳一起早餐的人，或者在Hostel裡睡在妳上鋪的人，在深夜的巴士休息站向妳借火點煙而聊起天的人，下一個轉身便可能是久遠的告別。不為什麼，就因為不斷膨脹擴大的宇宙。

只是啊，也許再見，也許，永不相見。

可是那晚，我把所有的星星都藏進眼眸，試著用溫軟的笑聲對他說，你不要這樣說嘛，我會回來的。

他就對我說，那回來記得找我，我招待妳。

然後我們揮手告別。

我永遠都會回來。

載著一車甜蜜的孩子回到台北，然後獨自一人在車上聽著Coldplay的Us against the world混著潮溼的傷心。

In my heart she left a hole。妳就這樣在我心裡留下了一個洞。而世界仍舊喧囂不已。安靜的夜裡，我會抱著我的貓問，Sontag，當我們想念時怎麼辦呢。感覺自己像被留下來的人，還坐在餐桌前等著最後一道菜，但甜點早就上完好久了。

也許遠方的人們也正在想念著我吧。

幾天之後，我們都會整頓好自己，把自己重新放進現在的生活。有時想起擱淺的海豚被人扶起，或者和牛一起生活，還有那片聞起來永遠帶著眼淚味道的土地，想起所有我心愛的人們。

Through chaos as it swirls, it’s us against the world.

心有所愛，不忍世界頹敗。

只要想到這麼好的你們，四散在世界各處，為了深愛的人或土地或動物而那麼努力著，我就覺得，我實在啊，無需如此的傷心。

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《海誓》  林達楊

又回到海濱荒地，那年我們生活在此

為愛勞作，摸索沙堡的所有細節

風的紋路，沾溼的手

埋起空的海螺，飾以白色的貝殼

搜索的水光不動聲色地閃爍在腳下

站在淺水岸邊我仍繼續補撈——

或說繼續等候，那些不知何去

不再經過我心的，保育類魚群

水光閃爍，快樂有時，憤怒有時

累極了偶爾也嘆著氣仰望

想像藍天才是海洋而我們泅泳

光天化日之下，或者之上

誰對時間灑下大網讓雲朵湧出

化作煙霧，在溫暖的掌紋裡

讓妳迷了路變成某種美好，某種表情

美好且漂浮的謎，停留在這裡

一個秘密浮出水面，另一個

沉入水底，遙遠的想像裡爬滿藻荇

輕輕動搖，輕輕作著起伏的夢

我造舟，島嶼皆非偶然我明白

即使我們也曾為了有涯與無涯激辯

從陸地遙遠的那端出發，沿著未知海濱

來到這裡，讓指南針終於指向自己

指向自己的身後，大海要如何繼續

包圍我一人以漸漸變色的昔日的戀情

如何抱緊世界，卻假裝什麼都沒有

我造舟，不為離去為了說服自已：

彼岸一定有人收到了我早前寄出的

那一封信，依約對此地擲出了那顆

最好的石子，依約轉身面向晨光

多年後，此岸的黃昏才會湧起這麼多

不忍消退的海浪

by Wayne 育偉 (“來去鄉下住一個月” volunteer)

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當一群小朋友們拉著我的手，癟著嘴說：「你不要走…你不要走…」那一刻，我才發現我們是真的要離開了…

記得當初我們鬼打牆了好幾次才抵達成龍國小，大家一起待在辦公室像舉行什麼儀式般的瘋狂畫著烏龜，乞求這一個月的好天氣。但烏龜們似乎工作不力，很多時候我們穿起雨衣在雨中工作著，無奈地哼唱著：「working in the rain~ working in the rain~」而這變化多端的天氣大概也是這一次活動中難忘的經驗，每天大家聚在一起享用早餐的同時，Tim總是像個專業的氣象播報員，即時更新氣象局的資訊，告訴大家當天的降雨機率。但人算不如天算，大夥們總在以為會陰天的天氣中曬得滿身傷，而在以為會是大太陽的天氣中淋了個落湯雞。

我喜歡在每日下工後，騎著向當地居民借來的腳踏車，到處閒晃著，有時看看其他藝術家當天完成的進度，有時就在某個地方停了下來，遠望著前方橘紅色的夕陽與雲朵交錯著，彷彿像是在表演一場奇幻的魔術秀，沒人能預測它下一秒會是什麼樣；而藝術品的影子倒映在水面，因著徐徐的風盪漾著，好像都活了起來。此外，我最期待的則是每晚的星空，雖然大部分的時間都是陰雨天，只有在難得的好天氣才會遇見整片的星空，但或許就是因為稀少而珍貴，那滿佈天空的星點多到不知從何數起。有趣的是，晚上在大偵探宿舍外頭用餐時，往天空望去就是北斗七星，好像正竊聽著大夥們在聊些什麼。

這個藝術季很特別，它不只是藝術家們閉門造車的完成裝置藝術而已，它更深入到居民的生活中，過去的三年的耕耘，漸漸地有了收穫，孩子們熟門熟路的知道該在什麼時候出現幫助藝術家與志工們，看他們專注的一同參與藝術品的創作，臉上那份驕傲與認同感，是令我最感動的畫面。除了小朋友們外，村民的幫助更是不可或缺，熱情的村民總是在藝術家們陷入窘境的時候二話不說地跳出來幫忙，說實在的，如果沒有他們的協助，這耗費周章的工作不知道哪時候才能完成。在工作之餘，村民們偶爾會到三合院坐坐，用著不是很流暢的英語，自信地和藝術家聊著天，儘管有時候語言不通，但我想人與人之間那份真摯的流動，彼此是會感受到的。

如果要說說自己在這次活動中有什麼樣的不同的話，我想立刻浮現腦海的是：「我變得超黑！」在烈日下工作儘管塗多少的防曬乳，都抵擋不住強烈紫外線的侵襲，當然這只是玩笑話。認真說起來，在這段時間裡，大家彼此交換著生命故事，述說著自己做了什麼抉擇而來到了這裡，我不知道當初想要找尋的那份熱情和動力是否有在這邊發現它們的蹤跡，但我知道我非常喜歡這裡，這裡簡單的生活、純樸的居民，還有遠離塵囂的那份恬適，雖然迫於現實的考量不得不離開這裡繼續前進，但我知道這小村莊已經悄悄的烙在我的心裡。

成龍溼地！我們明年相見！虱目魚先生請好好的活著！！

The 2013 Cheng Long Wetlands International Environmental Art Project opened May 3, 2013, with a press conference and opening ceremony at 10 AM.  The weather was a little rainy, but all the journalists enjoyed the tour around the Wetlands to look at the artworks and hear the artists explain about their works.  There is coverage of the Cheng Long art project in all the major Taiwan newspapers today and lots of nice photos of the artworks.

Here are photos of the finished artworks by the 6 international artists.  My husband Timothy S. Allen has been having fun taking lots of photos of the artists and children in Cheng Long, and these photos are some Tim took early Saturday morning when the sun came out again.

Giorgio Tessadri – Italy, “Element” (This is one of three parts of Giorgio’s artwork – Notice the bird sitting there and enjoying a new fishing spot!)

Johan Sietzema – Holland, “Food-Prints” (Johan’s question to put “on the table” for the reporters on Friday was “Why are these fish flying in the air?”

Michele Brody – USA, “Water Table Teahouse” (People can drink some tea at Michele’s teahouse during the opening weekend activities -Saturday 2-5 PM and Sunday 10-12 and 2-5 PM.)

Michael Rofka – Germany, “The Milkfish” (Visitors can go inside the big fish sculpture and look out at the Wetlands through the eye of the fish.

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Ya-chu Kang – Taiwan, “Reservations” (The big tablecloth is on the woven bamboo table, and the recycled chairs are in disarray arranged high in the air above the Wetlands.)

Kui-chun Chiu – Taiwan, “A Fish for Every Year” (The bamboo table with the big bamboo fish is floating on the water of the Wetlands.) 

Keep checking this Blog for more updates about the Cheng Long Wetlands International Environmental Art Project.  We expect lots of visitors in Cheng Long Wetlands on Sunday, May 5, for the opening weekend activities, 10-12 and 2-5PM.  Stop in and do some activity with the artists while chatting about the artworks. Or, just enjoy the photos of this art project happening in Taiwan!

The artworks will remain on view in Cheng Long Wetlands, Yunlin County, Taiwan, for one year or until they decompose over time into the Wetlands.  All the works are made with natural materials and are biodegradable!

2013成龍溼地國際環境藝術節 記者會採訪通知

0502 新聞稿 – 成龍溼地藝術家作品發表 — 年年有魚 生生不息

The artworks are all progressing well and the artists are working very hard to complete their installations.  This is a daily entry about the second week of our project in Cheng Long Wetlands.

Thursday, April 18

Each artist works with one of the classes at Cheng Long Elementary School on Thursday afternoons.  This is a photo of some of the children in Michele Brody’s 3^rd grade class helping her move oyster shells to make a sort of reef around her tea house in the Wetlands.  The other artists also led their class of children in doing some work on their art installations on this day.

Friday, April 19

On Friday night after a hard week of working on the art installations, the artists and village people celebrated at Taiwan Night!  This is the first year we have had an activity for each country represented by the artists in the project.  I asked the artists to bring some food, music, games or stories from their country to share with the other artists and volunteers.  Taiwan night was really special because the whole Cheng Long community came out to help celebrate with karaoke music, local food specialties and a big party in the temple courtyard.  The two Taiwanese artists in the art project this year, Ya-chu Kang and Kuo-chun Chiu, brought some Taiwanese treats to share, even some betel nuts and Taiwan beer.   This photos shows a group enjoying the party for Taiwan night.

Saturday, April 20

On Saturday morning we went just after breakfast to tour the organic fish farm that the Kuan Shu Foundation is starting in Cheng Long Wetlands as a model to help educate the local people in ways to do fish farming without continuing to pump out the underground water that causes the continued sinking of the land.  Here is a photo showing the baby clams being added to the Cheng Long Wetlands model fish farm. 

Sunday, April 21

On the weekend many local children come out to help the artists in the Wetlands as they are constructing their works.  Here is a photo of some of the local kids helping Giorgio make the 2^nd “element” for his artwork.  This is the part of his work on land; another element is at the bird blind connected to the building, and another part is in the water and makes a bridge-like connection with the land.

Monday, April 22

After another day of work in the Wetlands, the artists and volunteers met after dinner at the “red house” for USA night.  Michele made some special food (potato pancakes and apple sauce) to share with everyone, and we had American music from the Internet!  Michele did a great dance routine imitating Michael Jackson to the tune of “Beat It.” 

Tuesday, April 23

On Tuesday Giorgio started his “element” in the water, and lots of local people helped with the machine that makes holes in the water to put in the bamboo poles to start this part of Giorgio’s installation. 

Tuesday night was Holland night, and Johan made some food from Holland with cheese and potatoes and also shared a fun game with the other artists and volunteers.  This is a game where the person ties a piece of wood, or in this case it was bamboo to a string, and then attaches the string behind so that the piece of bamboo is hanging down behind like a tail.  Then the person stands over a bottle and tries to make the piece of bamboo go into the bottle.  It was quite funny watching everyone try to do this trick!  This photo shows Johan demonstrating this game! 

Wednesday, April 24

On Wednesday Taiwanese artist Ya-chu Kang decided to do the print on her tablecloth for her artwork with the 1^st grade children that she is working with.

She is using the Cyanotype technique to make an image with the sun, and Wednesday’s weather was sunny!  This photo shows the fabric after it is washed and ready to hang up to dry.  The children had to lay on the fabric in the hot sun for about 15 minutes to get the print of their image and some kitchen tools on the fabric. 

On Wednesday afternoon we had a Symposium about the environmental art project  at the Yunlin County Mango Art Café.  The curator and artists all made presentations about their experience in Cheng Long, and there were questions and comments from the audience.  This photo shows some of the audience including the County Magistrate enjoying the tea and conversation at the event. 

Thursday, April 25

On this Thursday afternoon the school children were again working with their artist in the Wetlands helping the artists with their artworks.  This photo shows Gieorgio working with his group of children to make a question on one of his bamboo poles to be used in the installation.  The question in English and Chinese is made on the bamboo with a stencil and non-toxic paint. 

Friday, April 26

On Friday some of Taiwanese artist Kuo-chun Chiu’s former students from Tainan Technical University came to help with his artwork.  This photo shows the students and Chun and some other volunteers who are visiting Cheng Long helping to make the big bamboo table that he will float in the Wetlands for his installation. 

All of the artworks are starting to take shape now, and it is exciting to see the progress.  The artists are beginning to feel more pressure to get everything done for the press conference and official opening ceremony next Friday, May 3!

There will be a public opening weekend on May 4 and 5 with DIY activities with the artists at their installations in the Cheng Long Wetlands.

Check the Blog again after May 5 to see all of the works completed and the opening weekend DIY activities.

The artists arrived on Thursday, April 11, and most came on the HSR train to Chiayi Station at about 4PM. Here is a photo of some of the artists arriving in Cheng Long and moving their baggage into the houses where they will stay for the 25-day residency.

The artists are also meeting their volunteers for the first time.  The Taiwanese volunteers for this project come from all over Taiwan, and all can speak English and are eager for cultural exchange as well as helping the artists make the artworks.

On Friday, April 12 we had breakfast together at one of the houses where artists stay in Cheng Long. Some of the artists had never used chopsticks before, so here is a photo of a lesson in how to use the chopsticks.

After a meeting for introducing everyone, we went to the elementary school to meet the children.  Each artist will work with one class of children, and the children have been learning some English to communicate with the artists.  In the afternoon we visited the local recycling center so some artists could find recycled materials for their artworks.

On Saturday April 13, we had a tour of Cheng Long Wetlands, and the curator and artists agreed on the site for each of the 6 artworks.  Here is a photo of the group looking at the Wetlands.

On Saturday afternoon we went to visit a bamboo master who makes chairs.  He showed us how to bend bamboo by heating it with a torch and how to join it easily.  Here is a photo of the bamboo master showing the artists some techniques for working with bamboo.

Most of the artists have not worked with bamboo before, but use other materials in their country.  The Welcome Party was Saturday night, and all the village people and government sponsors were there to welcome this group of artists with a wonderful “pot luck” dinner of local foods.  After the dinner, the artists each made a presentation about their artwork and what they are planning to make in Cheng Long Wetlands.

On Sunday, April 14, we took a trip to the mountains in eastern Yunlin County to see another bamboo master and also to see a wonderful bamboo forest.  Here is a photo of the bamboo master showing us some techniques for working with green bamboo and another photo shows the bamboo forest and tall bamboo growing in this part of Taiwan.

It was raining for most of the day,  but everyone watched closely and had a great time seeing the mountains and so much bamboo.  It took almost 2.5 hours to drive there to see the bamboo forest and the bamboo master, but it was a great chance to see a very different part of Taiwan.

On Monday, April 15, all the artists and volunteers went to the nearby seashore to gather recycled bamboo and other discarded materials that they could use for their artworks.  Here is a photo of some of the group looking at the beach area to see what might be useful.

Ya-chu and her volunteer collected some things to use for the Cyanotype images in her artwork; here you can see them carrying a large basket with many objects that were found at the seashore.

Other artists and volunteers collected lots of bamboo poles that had been used for oyster farms and are now broken and washed up to shore.   Many of the artists are using some of this recycled bamboo to make their artworks.

On Tuesday, April 16, the order for new bamboo was delivered in Cheng Long.  Here is the truck loaded with bamboo arriving at the “red house” which is one of the main work spaces.

Chao-mei had to check to make sure each artists got the right amount of bamboo, and then the bamboo was sorted and cut and moved to the different sites where the artists will begin making their artworks.

Some children also came by after school to help the artists measure and cut bamboo.

By Wednesday, April 17, all of the artists are hard at work at their sites or at the “red house” cutting and beginning the construction of their artworks.

Taiwanese artist Chun is starting to move his bamboo for his artwork.

Giorgio and Jane are looking at the bamboo poles that are the basic beginning structure of his first “Element” in the bird watching house at the Wetlands.

Johan from Holland is starting to weave a large fish trap with split bamboo in his Wetlands “studio”.

Michael from Germany is measuring and cutting bamboo with his volunteer.

Michele from the USA is starting to tie many strings of oyster shells with her two volunteers. These oyster shells will make a barrier around her teahouse construction.

This is the first side wall of the teahouse structure Michele is making in the Wetlands.

Ya-chu and her volunteers are adding a tall bamboo pole to the old recycled chair for her installation in the Wetlands.

You could see the artworks starting to emerge in the landscape of the wetlands.  The artists are trying to make the artworks strong and secure and without any metal wire or nails or screws so there are many problems to solve.  It is a challenge to make artwork that is big and strong and that is still all natural and can dissolve over time back into nature with no harm to the environment.

Check back to see all the progress and the finish of these works by May 3 for the press conference and official opening ceremony.  There will also be public activities (DIY) with the artists on May 4 and 5!

Many thanks to all the artists, volunteers, staff and children for a great first week!

Jane Ingram Allen, Curator

The 6 international artists are arriving in Cheng Long village on Thursday, April 11!  Some will arrive at Chiayi HSR Station about 2:30 PM and some about 4PM, and they will be picked up in cars and brought to Cheng Long.  One of the artists, Michele Brody from USA, is already in Taipei, and she is enjoying having this time to see a little of Taipei before she comes to Cheng Long on April 11.

Here’s a photo of Michele having her first Taiwan tea with me, my husband Tim, and some other artists and friends in Taipei.

We expect all the artists will arrive in Cheng Long on Thursday afternoon before 6:30 to have dinner together with the volunteers from all over Taiwan!

It will be early to bed after the dinner together on Thursday night where all the artists will meet each other, meet their volunteers and also the staff and me the curator!

On Friday morning the artists will all go to the elementary school to meet the students and say hello to the class that they will be working with during the project.  The children are already learning some English and will also have some program to present to welcome the artists.  After lunch at school, we will all go out to look at the local recycling center to see if they have any materials the artists want to use and also take a look at the seashore for recycled bamboo and driftwood that they artists may want to use to make their artworks.  Here’s a photo of the artists at the recycling center last year collecting materials!

On Saturday we will tour the wetlands and finalize the site for each artwork and also make the final order for new bamboo so that all the artists can get to work as soon as possible on their proposed artworks.  Saturday night is also the Welcome Party in Cheng Long on the temple square where everyone has dinner together.  Here’s a photo of Cheng Long temple, one of the most interesting sites in the village!

After the Welcome Party dinner, all the artists will make a short presentation and maybe the children will also have some welcome performance for the artists. People in the community and sponsors are making special dishes to share for this dinner, and the artists will taste some of the local food specialties for the first time!

On Sunday, the artists and volunteers will all go out to the Yunlin mountain area to visit a bamboo master to learn some different techniques.  We will also see some local sites and come back to Cheng Long later that evening.

So you can see we have a full schedule for the first few days.  We are very excited to welcome the artists to Cheng Long for the 2013 art project, out fourth year! We are also hoping for good weather this year and no more rain!

Hello to all the children in Cheng Long,
哈囉，成龍的小朋友，大家好!!

My name is Johan Sietzema, and I am living in Holland, in the city of Gouda (named after the Gouda cheese!).  Gouda is a little old town in the middle of the Green Heart of Holland. The Peat Wetlands in Holland are about 4 to 6 meters below sea level. The only way for us to stay dry is to pump out the water into higher canals and lakes around us. The water level is sometimes reaching as high as the roof or the first floor of our houses.
我是Johan Sietzema，我住在荷蘭的豪達鎮 (這個城市的名字是以「豪達起司」來命名的，「豪達起司」是荷蘭的扁圓形黃色乳酪!) 豪達鎮是個有點古老的城鎮，位於荷蘭的綠色心臟中部 (The Green Heart of Holland 「綠色心臟」是一個被阿姆斯特丹、鹿特丹、海牙等大城市圍繞的鄉村地區)。荷蘭的泥炭濕地大約低於海平面4到6公尺，為了維持乾燥，我們所能做的就是把水抽到我們周圍更高的運河和湖泊。海平面有的時候甚至高達我們的屋頂或是房子的一樓。

I am an ecological or land artist using regional materials, working according to the history and circumstances of the location. Most of the time, my studio is outside in the landscape at the same place the installation or sculpture piece will be part of.  I love to work with all kinds of natural materials such as wood, willow-shoots, clay, sand, growing and living plants, vegetable fibers, and water. I am using the techniques of basket making and earth building to make constructions with branches, weaving them together to create strong pieces.  These are also the materials and techniques I want to use to work with the children and community of Cheng Long.  I want to not only create a material object, but a growing, living piece that belongs to the place; it becomes part of this special area of Cheng Long Wetlands.  This project will not only be the way of the artist, his mind and ideas and a presentation to visitors, but the exchange with the local inhabitants and the landscape, the roots that connect us as living creatures.
我是個生態/地景藝術家，運用在地的素材，並依據每個地方的歷史和環境來創作。大部分的時間，我的工作室在戶外，也就是在地景裡，和我的裝置創作或雕塑作品在一起。我喜歡用各式各樣的自然素材來創作，像是木材、柳樹的嫩枝、泥土、沙子、生長中的植物、蔬菜的鬚根和水。我運用籃編和泥塑的技巧將樹枝編織起來，創造成一個堅固的作品；這也是我想要在成龍村和孩子及社區居民共同創作的材料及技術。我想要的不只是創作一個物件，而是一件會持續成長、活生生的屬於這個地方的作品，它將成為專屬於成龍溼地的一部分。這個計畫將不只是藝術家將他的心靈、想法呈現給訪客，而是藝術家和當地的居民，以及地景，也就是我們生命的根源，相互交流的結果。

These are some photos from an weaving project with school children in Lopik Holland last year.

I am also a teacher of 2 and 3 Dimensional Design at the PolytechnicalCollege “Vakschool Schoonhoven” in Schoonhoven, Holland. The school trains students to be jewelers or work with stained glass and make glass objects with glass blowing. For me it will be an honor to meet the children and community of Cheng Long and to work with them to create the “Food-Prints” project in the Cheng Long Wetlands.
我也是荷蘭Schoonhoven工藝專科學校平面和立體設計的老師。這個學校專門訓練學生成為珠寶設計師，也以教導彩色玻璃，吹製玻璃的藝術作品著稱。我覺得非常榮幸可以跟成龍的孩子和居民見面，並且一同在成龍溼地創作「食物足跡」這件作品。

Thank you and see you soon,
謝謝並期待早日見面

Johan

Yachu collecting at dump in Eureka CA.

各位好！我是雅筑，來自台北，即將在四月中與你們一起玩創作，運用日光照射中的方式製作藍晒氰版，以生活中的各式媒材創造布料上的圖案，完成與現成物結合的裝置作品。除了與大家共同創作之外，深入瞭解雲林的溼地環境與漁產，也讓我興奮與期待，相信你們都比我熟悉台灣的飲食與文化，因為展覽而有許多旅行經驗的我，分享一張去年去奧地利參加展覽時，在薩爾斯堡遇見的節慶裡所販售的烤魚攤，看看和台灣的烤魚有哪些同異之處?

Hello, I am Ya-chu, from Taipei. I am so excited to come to Cheng Long village and make art together using the sun print technique with all kinds of living materials to make pictures on the fabric. As well as creating artwork, I am eager to learn more about your wetland environment and the local fishery industry. I can’t wait to get there and experience everything! I believe you know more about Taiwanese food and culture than me, but I have had many travel experiences while giving exhibitions in other countries. Here I show you a photo taken in Salzburg last year while I had a show in Austria. Can you tell me if there is any difference between Taiwanese roast fish and Austria’s roast fish?

 

Salzburg OctoberFest