books of the brave
We made a visit to the seminary of San Geranimo where the direct decendents of the couragous friars of the colonial times are still at their studies. There is exemplification of the historical use of the libraries as well. The young students read their books in an intensive silence without a computer apparent.
high altitude
Indigenous panoply and craft assimilates imports of all kinds. From Christianity to cell phones to book conservation technique, the wily local talents will remake them all. In this interface there are many lessons for the teachers and those lessons convey discoveries. Soon everyone is surprised with a new culture.
It is a wonderful attribute of dislocation to highland Peru that practice of technique is exciting again. Take for example bookbinding. Bookbinding is a method for traveling conceptual works and making them portable. Bookbinding is a precept for dancing through earthquakes.
un sublime
Today (Wednesday) a Peruvian candybar, Sublime, was issued to the team of Anna, Chela, Joyce, Emily and Jessica following a very productive day with set-up and testing of our book and shelf cleaning and stabilizing operation. This method will be duplicated in much more challenging situations.
We have all been busy with start-up activities and short on time for posting...but pictures and more will be forthcoming. We are amazed at the great variety and oddnesses of these old colonial collections. These are "books of the brave" to this day.
arequipa rocks
Our project team has arrived in Arequipa and was greeted by a magnitude 6 quake. It occured at 4 am so the experience was a transition from one dream state to another as the building swayed and everything vibrated loudly. The neighborhood dogs and chickens were very distrubed. The quake is a good omen for our project and we are already making progress to preserve historical libraries.
We have developed a useful method for cleaning books and are now at work preparing to move an endangered collection from a quake damaged building. Our workshop will soon study the colonial collections to determine characteristics of colonial binding.
|
