Materials: $30, Pictures: $20

Walk into a house in the communities of PaloPique, Ahuachapan, and the walls are bare.  If an agroservicio has given out free calenders, then perhaps photos of tractors or horses will be prominently displayed.  Some of the more priviledged have a picture of their family for a special event like a wedding or a graduation, but the majority of families lack any visual reminders of their loved ones.

AGROSAL and OXFAM AMERICA are serving the communities of Palopicque by providing agricultural services and forming and training micro-lending groups among the communities' women.  Organization has been difficult as these communities are not used to unifying, and their is a deep fear of participating in groups.  Everyone claims to suffer from 'pena', or deep embarrassment when asked to share their opinion.  Thus, the role of the ArtCorp artist is to inspire confidence in the women so that they participate and understand their creativite capabilities and are strong enough to change their communities if they work together.

This project aims to teach women how to use the resources they have to create objects of beauty and celebrate their communities by decorating their homes with pictures of loved ones rather than commercial items.

Making picture frames out of cast-off sticks and decorating them.  Later, gathering each family for a family portrait to celebrate and document the members of the community.

AGROSAL and Oxfam America will be in charge of providing materials, including string, tape, and paint.  They will also take the photographs and provide one printed portrait of each family.

The women are responsible for finding the appropriate sticks, trimming them, making the frames and painting them.  They will also be in charge of scheduling a time when their family can all be together for a portrait.