Mapping in Bela Rechka
Mapping the future
Being part of the festival and listening to various talks on the themes of 1989 myself and Sandra Hall (from Friction Arts) decided to use some mapping techniques with a group to create a dialogue between the younger and older participants and to broaden our understanding of how the so called ‘Excursion’ of 1989 affected the people of Bulgaria. This was done by each participant drawing a life map or time line of their lives so far, which included life changing/inspiring moments. The maps could be written or visual. Each map was then discussed as a group and this generated an in-depth dialogue between the different generations in an informal surrounding. With consent from the group we displayed the maps above the communal benches outside the school which created further conversation.
Thanking the locals - as another intervention we decided to decorate the benches where the local people sit in the afternoon shade. Using labels and plastic roses we set up outside the school one morning and asked people what they would like to say to the people of Bela Rechka & what we were planning to do. Within minutes people were gathered around writing labels while others translated some of the messages into Bulgarian. Lots of messages complimenting the village & thanking the locals for their hospitality were hung on the benches with the roses. In the afternoon the locals enjoyed the labels from the festival participants and by the evening most of the labels and roses had been taken home as souvenirs. 
