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

One Response

  1. Student Work: Writing with a Camera in Ecuador, Summer II, 2017 – Writing with a Camera [work-in-progress, release date: 01/19/2021]
    Student Work: Writing with a Camera in Ecuador, Summer II, 2017 – Writing with a Camera [work-in-progress, release date: 01/19/2021] · January 16, 2021 at 17:08:34 · →

    […] Audiovisuales Kichwas) and community entrepreneurs in Ecuador. Students were participating in Latitude Zero: Ecuador and the Galápagos, a Northeastern University Dialogue of Civilizations program led by Professors Jean Ormaza and […]

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