Peace Corps Volunteers from Left to Right: Benjamin Rojsuontikul, Kelli Stam, Julian Ramirez-Lohner, Sam Shepard, Jake Pritchard
On May 30th, Mother’s Day in Nicaragua, a group of Peace Corps volunteers hit the streets of Granada, armed with glue, rolls of paper, brushes and memories of their experiences over the past two years. Each volunteer had come to Nicaragua to work in different communities teaching and developing small business skills. Now after two years of service, they are saying good-bye to Nicaragua in July.
I first learned about the Inside Out Project coming to Granada in my local online news source, the Nicaragua Dispatch, and saved the date to capture this sentimental event. What better way to celebrate women in Nicaragua than on Mother’s Day with beautiful LARGE black and white imagery provided as part of a global art project! The Inside Out Project is “a global art project transforming messages of personal identity into art”. For someone who attended RISD (An art school in Rhode Island, USA) in the days of Andre the Giant and Shepard Fairy, I am a HUGE fan of Guerilla and site specific art. I was pretty excited to photograph an installation in my new community.
Kelli Stam first heard of the Inside Out Project from an online magazine NOWNESS. She shared it with Ben and they knew they had found a ‘perfect blend of something heartfelt and something creative’ as a way to say good-bye to the Nicaraguan women who had shared so much with them.
47 portraits were pasted at two sites in Granada.The event started at 9 am installing images on the walls of Los Tres Mundos and lasted all day. Kelli and her crew organized for the women to bus into Granada and participate in the installation of their portraits. A luncheon, a celebration, and invaluable support were provided by Nancy Bergman and Terry Leary, both former Peace Corps volunteers and owners of Hotel Casa San Francisco. In the afternoon the remaining portraits were installed by the Peace Corps crew on the walls of a gorgeous New Orleans style building. Wall space here was donated by Fundacion Corpus Christi. US Ambassador Phyllis Powers attended the morning event in support of this sentimental gesture and profound statement by volunteers with first hand experience of the strength and resilience of Nicaraguan women. Carol Barrick, Peace Corps Nicaragua Country Director, helped secure the funding for transportation of the ladies to Granada and was on site to meet them. Georgia Narcisso, the Associate Peace Corps Director and head of the Small Business Development Program was there too with big smiles.
Each volunteer had an intimate connection with the women displayed here. Grandmothers and daughters were included to speak to the past, present, and future of Nicaragua. I asked Kelli and the rest of the volunteers to share 6 of the stories of the women who had inspired them. Here are a few highlights:
Women of Nicaragua Pictured from Left to Right: Fatima Castillo, Darling Gonzalez, Juana Obando, Lesbia Rosales, Janeth Gutierrez
“………She was my host mother, counterpart teacher, and one of my closest friends during my time in Teustepe, Boaco. Her family took me in and always made me feel like a beloved part of the family. I’ve spent countless hours with Fatima and her family, watching telenovelas, sharing meals, and learning about Nicaragua. Fatima is an amazingly kind and generous woman, who has made my Peace Corps experience that much richer.” ~Benjamin Rojsuontikul
“Darling Gonzalez is my closest friend in Nicaragua……I’ve had the pleasure of working with Darling as one of my teacher counterparts in Boaco for the past two years, co-teaching the nationally recognized entrepreneurship course called Emprendedurismo to high school juniors and seniors. The Nicaraguan classrooms can be a challenging environment, but with Darling’s optimism, perseverance, quick wit and open mind and heart, I’ve enjoyed every moment of my experience with her as she has continued to inspire me in new ways every day” ~Kelli Stam
“Juana “Juanita” Obando has been my host mother for the past 2 years………She represents the typical small town, strong woman that not only has the responsibility for her household and family, but that of the whole neighborhood that I live in, as she is the main community leader and is one of the pillars of the catholic church community in the town of Tisma, Masaya. Her image was taken without any previous notice of the project to portray the real and raw emotions she instills in the community for this Inside Out Nicaragua project and the representation of the Nicaragua women we have had the pleasure of knowing.” ~Julian Ramirez-Lohner
“Profe Lesbia Rosales has been my host mother ever since I first moved to the little town of Villa el Carmen. And although I no longer live under her roof, not a day goes by when I don’t stop by her home, for some ice cream and/or advice. Seeing a demand for the delicious cold treat in our sun scorched town, Lesbia saw an opportunity and opened up the town’s very first ice cream shop, which has since grown to include a variety of other services. Years of working in the education system, as both a teacher, principal, and delegada, has transformed her into one of the most trusted and influential members of the community, despite not currently holding a position of formal authority. So if townfolk ever have a problem, they often decide they also have a sudden need for an ice cream cone too, and wander towards the shop for some advice. And you can bet that I do too!” ~Sam Shepard
“Going through training to become a Peace Corps volunteer can be a rough experience, but not when you get placed in the house of Janeth Gutierrez in San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua. Janeth is a mother and grandmother, as well as a leader in the community which is known for its beautiful ceramic artwork. She has touched the lives of Nicaraguans and Peace Corps volunteers alike, through her wisdom and perseverance. I had the pleasure of beginning my Nicaraguan experience in her home where I lived for three months as another member of the family. I admire Janeth’s positivity, openness, and intelligence. She is, and always will be, my Nicaraguan mother. ” ~Jake Pritchard
“Georgia Narcisso is our fearless leader. She is the Associate Peace Corps Director (APCD) or head of the Small Business Development program for Peace Corps Nicaragua. The unique nature of our jobs as PCVs means that she is much more than just our boss. She is a woman who we all admire for her boundless passion, energy, and elegance. We know how lucky we are to be a part of her program and receive her incredible insight and experience. We love you, Georgia!” ~The PCV Inside Out Crew
Kelli and Ben explained their biggest challenge was finding the wall space for installation. They started in Managua and after a few visits to Granada realized a pedestrian friendly city was a better option for accessibility and visibility. They worked within the deadlines set out for them by the Inside Out Project. Phase 1 was locking down the wall space, thus enabling them to determine the number and size of posters. Phase II was taking the portraits and uploading them. Phase III was waiting for the printing and shipping of the posters and coordinating the event.
Congratulations to the Women of Nicaragua, The Peace Corp Volunteers, and The Inside Out Project for a successful installation and a heartfelt and artful farewell!
The posters will be up indefinitely. If you find yourself wandering the streets of Granada, Nicaragua visit the two sites described and be moved and inspired. Phase IIII will be witnessing the ephemeral nature of these pieces as they disintegrate and dissolve, are covered up or torn down.