Campos de Gutiérrez Foundation

Campos is a cultural non-for-profit foundation located in the outskirts of Medellin, Colombia. It was officially constituted in August 2011 but the initial drafts of the project were made a year before that, focusing on its core residency program. The residency (now inactive until further notice) took place in a nineteenth century coffee hacienda that had been more or less abandoned for over a decade. Special efforts were made to restore and develop its physical spaces in order to meet the requirements of its cultural activities. Many people have gotten involved in this process, but it is fair to acknowledge that Campos exists thanks to Carlos Monzón-Aguirre, who has not only accompanied the administrative direction, but also provided its physical space.

 

Campos de Gutiérrez, Medellín 2012.


As an organization, Campos de Gutiérrez eventually incorporated other programs to the residency, such as Maati, Espiga and an Archive. However, the program itself remains very close to its original design, which always had a focus in memory, international exchange, and artistic practice. In a few words, Campos de Gutiérrez incorporates the following bases:  An archive of objects that are relevant to the Gutiérrez Building’s physical space, including photographs, furniture, tools, and the house itself; A ceramics emphasis; Curated exhibitions; A juried international residency program.

There are many aspects to Campos de Gutiérrez, but here I focus only on a couple of things that I find most relevant to my own personal practice. That is, the derivation of the Jury, the restoration and development process, and two of its branches – Maati and Espiga. For more information about Campos de Gutiérrez, please visit the official website.

Évita Yumul and Yu Morishita, Tokyo, 2010.

Derivation and Influence of the Jury

From 2011-2016, the jury consisted of myself and two other members, Évita Yumul and Yu Morishita, whose crucial pro bono participation began with the establishment of the residency program. With input gathered during the jury sessions, the jury also acted as advisors in strategizing and directing the critiques. I met both Évita and Yu while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design and later visited them in Japan before returning to Colombia. Their critical understanding of art, craft, and design has influenced the processes, dialogues, and works that were developed at Campos de Gutiérrez since its very beginning.

Restoration and development at the Campos de Gutiérrez physical spaces in 2011 and 2012.

Restoration and Development

Restoration has required multiple tasks, including recollection of waters and drainage, painting, illumination, masonry, and roofing. Development has consisted on appropriating spaces and acquiring equipment to facilitate the achievement of the processes that were required for activities such as residencies and workshops.
Click here to see before and after photos of some of the restored features.

The following before and after photographs reveal some of the restoration work.

Chapel side (east). 2009 / 2012

Main access to the upper level. 2009 / 2013

Virgin at the façade of thee building. 2009 / 2011

Upstairs west corridor. 2009 /2013

Electric Kiln Area. 2009 / 2013

 

Related Projects: Maati and Espiga.

Maati is a collaborator project that began at Campos de Gutiérrez and is now a branch of the foundation. It is best defined as an initiative to promote ceramic practices and highlight their historic and contemporary presence in Colombia. For more information see Maati.

Espiga is a curatorial project functions as an itinerant gallery that exhibits artworks created in the residency along with projects by local artists. For more information, see Espiga.