Hello all, As always, it's been a while since I posted! I wanted to write a (very short) piece to commemorate the recent publication of our study on Fuego. The lead author is Dr. Beth Bartel, an exceptional researcher and friend whose path intersected with mine while living in Guatemala in 2021 - 22. Our … Continue reading Children First: perspectives from Fuego
Is there a tension between being at once an artist and researcher? In this blog post, I share some initial reflections on the beginnings and outcomes of my arts council seed funded research project.
We document these stories to acknowledge that their experiences have meaning ...
This is a very brief post to highlight a short summary report I wrote on a piece of my work. The project is titled, "Investigating spatial distribution and impacts of airfall deposits from the October 1974 eruptive episode of Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala", and uses a mix of stratigraphic and participatory mapping, qualitative interviews, and … Continue reading Research progress!
A casi todos los viajeros que visitan Guatemala, suena familiar el nombre "Atitlán". El famoso Lago Atitlán es la joya en la corona de bellezas naturales de país, y ha sido conocido así por décadas. El escritor Aldous Huxley lo describió así: "(Lago de) Como, con el embellecimiento adicional de algunos volcanes inmensos. Seguramente es … Continue reading El otro mundo: Volcán Atitlán
It’s so long since I’ve been away so long that I forgot what it was like – reverse culture shock. Being back in Bristol is at turns an enjoyable daydream and a slow dislocation from my surroundings. I sit at pubs and in parks with faces and bodies that for months I met only across … Continue reading Al Contrario
After a week doing fieldwork in the villages south of Fuego, my friend Beth and I discussed the importance of reflecting on our work. Beth suggested that as well as evaluating our research approaches, it would be important to write about what it feels like to be there. I thought this was a splendid idea. … Continue reading A tale of two aldeas
"There were two desperate times. Two strong eruptions ... the first was the one that most scared us. Because we had not seen this type of eruption. Only ... we were already used to it. I believe the volcano was already erupting since when I was born. But it only bathed itself in fire, just … Continue reading Legacy and legend, and a volcanic prawn
I can't remember who first proposed we should see the ovens above Panimaché Dos. Perhaps it was my friend Arelis, before she left with Beth to speak to Doña Elena. I had chosen to stay behind, to talk with Arelis's mother, Marta, about her memories of Fuego's 1974 eruption. My ears pricked up in interest. … Continue reading I’m oven it like that
"Geology is too important to be left to geologists." - Patrick Corbett Guatemala. Although by name the land of many trees, I encourage you to consider it fauna not flora. You will find it alive and bristling, breathing its hot breath. From its sinuous green skin spring spines of sheer earth, steep and sharp. The … Continue reading Guatemala Vuelta
Reasoning With Volcanoes 