About this Dialogue

Latitude Zero: Ecuador and the Galápagos is a Northeastern University Dialogue of Civilization course that will run again Summer II, 2020, which will be the third time the Dialogue is run. Previous iterations ran Summer II of 2016 and Summer II of 2017.

If you have any questions about this dialogue, please contact David Tamés.

Ecuador is a country rich in biodiversity as well as culture and history. Students investigate the role of time as it relates to viewing, thinking, and expression as they respond to the natural environment and cultural landscape of Quito (the capital city), Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve, Otavalo, and the Galápagos Islands. By creating site-sensitive visual works students will consider the ways the natural environment, urban landscape, historical factors, and language influence the culture of a region.

Course Descriptions

ARTE 2500 – Writing with a Camera in Ecuador, Professor David Tamés, Department of Art of Design, Northeastern University

Investigates the ways in which we structure visual and sound elements to communicate specific ideas about culture and nature with photography and video. Through site-specific studio work students investigate the role of time as it relates to viewing, thinking, and expression as they respond to the natural environment and cultural landscape of Quito (the capital city), Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve, Otavalo, and the Galápagos Islands. Specific projects will structure the exploration and expression of ideas. A wide range of ecosystems and geography will be observed and some of the work will be performed in collaboration with indigenous media makers with a focus on cultural identity. While prior experience with video is helpful, it is not required. The course will include instruction in fundamental techniques and aesthetics of photography, videography, sound recording, and editing.

ARTE 2500 – Art, Culture, and Nature in Ecuador, Professor Juan Ormaza, Studio Foundation Department, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Investigation of the art, culture, and nature of Ecuador.  Through direct experience with various aspects of Ecuadorian culture, diverse natural environments, and the art and architecture of the region students develop their personal understanding of the complexities of this place. Through the creation of a personal sketch journal and the process of observation, analysis, and reflection, students will develop their understanding of themselves in relation to this complex culture. Students consider the ways the natural environment, urban landscape, historical factors, and language influence the culture of a region as they interact with people, scholars, artists, and indigenous media makers in order to inform their construction of a cultural narrative that culminates in the production of an artist’s book and related moving image artifacts.

Preliminary Itinerary for 2020 Dialogue

MON	6-Jul	Travel Day
TUE	7-Jul	Late AM: Health & Safety Orientation Late Mid: Group Lunch GROUP MEAL 1 of 4 Afternoon: Open (or guided excursion to get a local mobile number SIM chip if necessary)
WED	8-Jul	AM: Class on Quito’s Colonial History & Pre-Columbian Cultures  The group on our tour of Tulipe. PM Tour of Quito’s El Centro (Historical Center)
THU	9-Jul	AM: Documentary Video Boot Camp 1/4 PM: Observational Drawing 1/4
FRI	10-Jul	AM: Documentary Video Boot Camp 2/4 PM: Observational Drawing 2/4
SAT	11-Jul	Visit to El Centro (Historical Center) Production of Video 1: City as Studio
SUN	12-Jul	Rest day in Cumbaya
MON	13-Jul	AM: Studio (edit City as Studio Project) PM: Screening & Critique: City as Studio
TUE	14-Jul	AM: Classes TBD PM: Observational Drawing 3/4
WED	15-Jul	AM: Documentary Video Boot Camp 3/4 Lunch: Guest Lecture  PM: DRW 4/4
THU	16-Jul	AM: Documentary Video Boot Camp 4/4 Lunch: Guest Lecture PM: Class on Cloud forest & biodiversity
FRI	17-Jul	Travel to Mindo Visit to Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve on the way to Mindo  The Pululahua Crater and it’s surrouding mountains before the clouds started to roll through
SAT	18-Jul	AM: Hike and visit to waterfalls PM: Visit to Mariposeria Evening: Group Meal 3 of 4
SUN	19-Jul	Rest Day in Mindo
MON	20-Jul	Travel Day Visit to Quitsato Observatory on the way to Otavalo PM: Activities with APAK – Introduction to the  collaboration
TUE	21-Jul	AM: Activities with APAK – Meeting the community members PM: Planning
WED	22-Jul	Activities with APAK – Production for Video 2: Visual Storytelling
THU	23-Jul	Activities with APAK – Editing day 1 of 2 for  Video 2: Visual Storytelling
FRI	24-Jul	Activities with APAK – Editing day 2 of 2 for  Video 2: Visual Storytelling
SAT	25-Jul	AM: 1/2 Rest Day in Otavalo, Market Day in Otavalo  Evening: Screening and GROUP MEAL 2 of 4
SUN	26-Jul	AM: Return to Quito Visit Quitsato Observatory on the way back to Cumbaya  PM: 1/2 Rest Day
MON	27-Jul	AM Travel to San Cristóbal Welcome lunch & GPS Orientaion PM: Individual Student Meetings with Co-Leaders
TUE	28-Jul	Work on Video 3: Nature as Metaphor AM Class on Campus 2PM Visit to the Interpretation Center
WED	29-Jul	AM Class on Campus PM Visit to Reclying Center- Hydro-electric Plan
THU	30-Jul	Full day visit  to  Local Hacienda
FRI	31-Jul	AM Class on Campus PM Visit to Isla Lobos, with lunch
SAT	1-Aug	Work on Video 3: Nature as Metaphor Full day visit to Punta Pucuna + Kicker Rock  Shouts to Bren for this pic
SUN	2-Aug	Rest Day
MON	3-Aug	AM: Travel to Santa Cruz PM: Visit to Charles Darwin Center
TUE	4-Aug	Excursions: Group I: Day Trip to Bartolomé including snorkeling  Group II: Day Trip to North Seymour Island including snorkeling
WED	5-Aug	Work on Video 3: Nature as Metaphor AM: Group I: Video workshop, Group II: Drawing; PM: Group I: Drawing, Group II: Video workshop
THU	6-Aug	Excursions:  Group I: Day Trip to North Seymour Island, including snorkeling Group II: Day Trip to Bartolomé including snorkeling
FRI	7-Aug	Travel Day
SAT	8-Aug	Rest Day
SUN	9-Aug	Studio:  Work on Synthesis  Individual Student Meetings with Co-Leaders
MON	10-Aug	Studio:  Work on Synthesis
TUE	11-Aug	Studio:  Work on Synthesis Evening: GROUP MEAL 4 of 4
WED	12-Aug	AM: Preparation for Pop-Up Exhibition  PM: Evening: Pop-Up Exhibition
THU	13-Aug	AM: Packing and Free Time Evening: Return to US – Program Ends