for henry

in a part of the city where the streets not of particular interest to tourists, i saw what looked very much to me like a steam engine over the top of a high fence. i walked around to a field of old cars for sale and there these were, parked on the remains of rails. nobody i talked to had any idea what they were doing there and, i thought, might have been surprised at my interest. this is a city of ravaged vehicles and structures. why would these attract attention? these are for henry.

shelves

i have seem just one grocery store in three days. food and sundries are in very short supply. the explanation often given is "the blockade" but some i've spoken with think this may be a way of maintaining economic control. economy is a reflection of every aspect of our lives, as americans know very well as a disproportionately consumer culture.

i tried to bring a dvd player in to a friend of a friend in richmond but it was confiscated at customs in the havana airport. it took two trips back to the airport (one thwarted trip), a series over a few days of long complicated phone calls, and a navigation through half a dozen different individuals with many forms, several in triplicate or more, lots of stamping and processing.

i speak just a small amount of spanish but the people i've met and talked with have been very generous. there are guards on almost every street corner. it is a major source of employment.
there is a lot of standing around.

images from the first few days in havana

crumbling artifacts from Havana's colonial past. a very common sight.



there are vintage cars (40's, 50's) everywhere. i'll post one dy with just images of old cars. (for you, anne) i'm told the locals have become ingenious mechanics with what they have available: fifty year old soviet engines, wire, cans...etc.

the local design community has been very warm and welcoming. they have launched exhibitions around the city ito coincide the conference. these are students at the design institute welcoming us to an open house and exhibition of student work, including a fashion show.

Water Workshop Access

To see how the site functioned and to view the briefs prepared for the workshop go to:
http://blackboard.vcu.edu
username: water
password: water
Select the link to Water Workshop under "My Organizations"
The briefs are in the Documents section. Student writings are in the Discussion Board section.

ICOGRADA presentation links

About Reggio Emilia
http://zerosei.comune.re.it/inter/index.htm
http://www.reggioinspired.com/main.htm

Project Zero
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/

Ordering and Documenting:
the activities of work and play