Part one: Friday, January 21st, 2011. or for the sake of being in Europe: 21/01/2011
Today, Mirela Pribac came to our classroom to discuss her experience documenting the Roma through photography then comparing them to stereotypes. She started her presentation with the following quote:
“The Roma have never declared war on anyone, because they have never needed land. They have never felt the need to seize someone else’s territory. We are the only people in the world that have never resorted to terrorism to demand the sacred right of existence. We do not claim any territory but rather an existence that we have been denied since the time when we were forced to leave our land of origin. Even today, the Roma people, who were victims of that circumstance, are still regarded as a social flaw that needs to be eliminated. Until our people is acknowledged as an ethnic minority and are also recognized all political rights, we will remain paralyzed in the word "gypsies," citizens of any country, but always third-rate citizens."
by Santino Spinelli, the first Rom In Europe to become a senior lecturer.
Empowered by the language, it drew us all in to the subject! She then discussed the three questions that lead her into finding out more information about “Roma”. 1) Why are they here? 2) Why do they stay? 3) Where do they stay?
Isabella Clough is an artist! How cool right? She passed out a long roll of film during her presentation for all of us to look at. It was moving! She tried to capture the beauty of these people rather than the ‘trash’ around them. Her presentation was informative and covered various topics. Some key facts were things such as:
- Roma reached Europe in the 1300s
- They were first mentioned in Italy in 1422
- They are divided into three main blocks: Eastern Roma, Central European Roma: Sinti and Romani, and Cale: Spanish and Portuguese Roma.
- Most camps are on the east side of Rome
- The estimate numbers are 3 to 4 times as much as the ‘official numbers’
- Something she said: “The national government are uncomfortable with counting the numbers of Romas in their country - and i’m uncomfortable with the official number because it’s misleading”
One question she proposed:
How do we fight against stereotyping and discrimination ?
The biggest portion of her lecture was on a camp named Campo Nomadi Salone. It is the largest camp in Europe. Around 6,000 people have lived there. On the morning of 7th of March, 2005. She took her first visit to this camp through a contact she knew from the 5th Department of Campo Nomadi Salone. The gentleman had worked there for 10 years and has never been mention. Yet, he solves the water problems, hygiene problems, and in sum is the middle man between the Roma and the government.
During her first visit she took photos: “focusing on the people rather than the context”. She explained how she gained the trust to be allowed to come into the camps and take photos. Her explanation was she wasn’t a journalist, she didn’t want to come in and show the conditions they were living in but she actually just wanted to take a photo of their faces and hear their stories. After the people in these camps were victimized in 2006 by networks like BBC, it was difficult for her to gain access and she felt quiet lucky! She took her 2nd visit, 6 years later in 2011 and noticed the rapid change. “A space that holds 600 people in a number of container now holds 1000 and they only sublimated 20 containers. After calculation - you can only imagine! Less space for everyone.”
She feels like her artwork is a tool to FIGHT DISCRIMINATION! The small remarks she hears from people to see the beauty in these people rather than view them as objects - is what assures her she is making a difference!
“INSTEAD OF OPPOSING INTEGRATION TO DISCRIMINATION, THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MADE ITS CHOICES”
The word “Choices” was linked to an angular view of “Solone, Rome, Italy” in Google Maps and then compared to Auschwitz. - TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF!
Part 2: Manka with her red mini skirt & Souvonnah with her thigh high boots!
I am sure at this time, most of us are still recovering from a long night out on the town with ArciGay! What an adventure it was!
We started our evening at 8 p.m. in UWRC then we walked together to the bus station to meet members of ArciGay on the other side of town. When I say “the other side of town” - I am sure most of us felt like it was the other side of the country! Yes, I am being a little dramatic, but all the rain and walking was so worth it by the end of the night! It was hands down, my favorite night here in Italy. Personally, I go to sleep around 9 p.m., so the fact that I was out so late was something I was boasting about!
Our long walk consisted of; ATM stops, a Cappuccino & Expresso stop, meeting our friends from ArciGay, and finally arriving to a real ‘chic’ and ‘hip’ cafe & bar. I was amazed by how beautiful this place was in such a dark quiet town. The chairs were all so fun, the music was great, the drinks were expensive but tasteful. With laughs, conversations, awkward moments (In reference to: the back room wall photos & a empty rack with hangers in the center of the room?), and great company! It was a time worthwhile.
Our group decided to split up in two a few hours into this adventure. Majority of the group went out to eat and explore the night life back near our apartments. From what I hear, they had a great time!
The night ends with with Gina & I with Stephanie, Manka, and her friend from England! We went to a club/art show at a place called Rising Love. We waited in line because the place was so popular! We paid 10 euro to become members of ‘Arci’ - I’m still not sure what that means but we felt “official”. And most of all, we had a GREAT time! I bought my favorite dress in the world from a small rack of clothes and Gina bought a really nice ring from the sweetest and most understanding guy! I speak so proudly of him because my entire glass of wine was spilled all over his rings!! Can you believe it? I did buy a ring from him after that!.
A special part of this show, was the collection of photographs that was displaced when you first walked in. It was unified in a sense that everyone was themselves. All photos where displayed exactly the same. They were 9X9 inch photos (I am estimating) of 1 single person in their room. Each had its own special touch because it allowed the personality of that individual to shine through!
We left Rising Love full of excitement, called a taxi, and called it an AMAZING NIGHT in ITALY!!!!
Thank you Manka & Stephanie!
No comments:
Post a Comment