Creative route in nature: Art and experimentation in the Elqui River basin

Learning about the origins of the waters that run through the Elqui River Valley, its history and landscapes through artistic and scientific experimentation, was the objective of the Hielos del Elqui project, winner of our 2023 competitive fund. The initiative led by Fundación Niebla, invited students from 5th to 8th grade of the Academy of Sciences and the Germination Workshop of the Ríos de Elqui School in Rivadavia, Vicuña, Coquimbo region, to be part of a series of educational escapades in the field and creative laboratories in order to strengthen the connection of childhood with the territory and the value of the conservation of the valley, its waters and glaciers.

The first stage included an expedition to the Estero Derecho Nature Sanctuary in the company of scientists Antonio Maldonado and Laura Díaz, members of the Center for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA) and the person in charge of the Sanctuary, Verónica Salazar. During this tour, the participants observed rock glaciers and learned about the formation of this valley, its mountain ranges and the origin of its waters. This territory houses one of the most important water reserves in the region and is mainly inhabited by community members who have been responsible for protecting and promoting conservation measures.

The day included a visit to an archaeological site located at the entrance to the sanctuary, where petroglyphs were seen, ancient rock engravings that constitute an important legacy of rock art from the north of the country. This experience was documented by the students through notes and drawings in individual logbooks. In addition, various types of records were made through photographs and videos. The exploration extended to the El Chañar shelter, where they did some acoustic exploration and recorded the sound of water using hydrophones. They also collected plant and rock samples.

 Transdisciplinary experimentation

The second stage of the project included three creative laboratories that integrated different artistic methodologies focused on cartography, videos, sounds and images using the samples and records captured during the field days; where natural elements were examined with microscopes; wood carvings were made inspired by their observations and drawings; and an audiovisual piece was created using the stop motion technique with the support of the visual artist Antonia Piña . Likewise, sound was experimented with using recordings to create a collective composition with the support of the sound artist, Jose Del Pozzo.

The result of these creative sessions was brought together in a public exhibition at the Casa de la Cultura de Vicuña that was on display until the end of 2023, receiving approximately 1,200 visitors linked to tourism, schools, high schools and kindergartens. For the project managers, María José García and Catalina Mac-Auliffe from Fundación Niebla, this was a significant event and highly valued by the community. According to Mac-Auliffe, general coordinator of the project, the inauguration not only closed the learning process of the children, but also provided an opportunity for the students to reflect on their achievements and share their learning with their families and environment. “The children felt very proud of what they were able to do in the artistic and scientific fields,” she said. 

Following the project’s implementation, Fundación Niebla will seek to continue and expand the application of this learning methodology, allowing more school communities from various regions of the country to become involved in artistic and scientific experimentation in nature. In this way, it is intended to raise awareness among children about the conservation of the territories they inhabit.