Between January 15th and 23rd, Tremor and Núcleo de Arte Bonecreira da Lagoa promote a workshop on "Arte Bonecreira and Presépios de Lapinha", with the goal of reinterpreting traditional clay figurines and their lapinha nativity scenes, which this year are the theme that gives color and personality to the festival’s visual identity.

The intention of this initiative is to bring together João Arruda, the local craftsman who has been moulding the figurines, Ruca Bourbon and Mariana Malhão, two of the artists invited to paint the small dolls and build the Tremor 2024 nativity scenes, in a workshop open to the community, where the next figurines and nativity scenes will be created. The intention is that, at the end of this workshop, which will have three phases—Moulding, Painting, and Construction of Nativity Scenes—, around 50 clay figurines and 6 complete nativity scenes will have been completed. These will be photographed and integrated into Tremor’s image. Furthermore, these creations will also be displayed in an exhibition taking place during the festival.

The beginning of the Bonecreira Art dates back to the second half of the 19th century, when the first workshops producing these small clay figurines appeared in the city of Lagoa, in São Miguel. Currently, it is a form of cultural expression valued and appreciated by local artisans and lovers of popular art. The dolls, which are built using moulds and later perfected by hand, are baked and then painted with care to highlight details such as clothes, facial expressions and accessories.

In this edition, the visual identity of Tremor 2024 comes even closer to local culture, proposing to reinterpret the Bonecreira Art and the Lapinha Nativity Scenes. Involving local artisans and contemporary artists, the festival will take advantage of the existing collection of figurines to create new characters and environments that metaphorically represent the public of Tremor and the contemporary Azores, in a dialogue between the traditional and the modern, the normal and the strange. The figurines will be associated with artists, artistic residencies, projects and stages at Tremor, creating an art gallery through the presentation of all the elements that are part of the festival’s programming.

This workshop will take place at the Convento de Santo António, Lagoa, and participants will be divided into two groups that will work at different times, always accompanied by the artisan and the two artists.

10 places will be open and all those interested in participating must send their registrations by January 12th to the institution's email: Museu@lagoa-acores.pt, or call 296912510.

Participation is free.

Calendar

January 15th — 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Group I: Moulding. Creation of a clay figurine, taking the mould as a starting point, which can then be created/adapted to other figures

January 15th — 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Group II: Moulding. Creation of a clay figurine, taking the mould as a starting point, which can then be created/adapted to other figures

January 19th — 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Group II: Painting

January 19th — 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Group II: Painting

January 22nd — 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Group I: Construction of the nativity scenes

January 22nd — 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Group II: Construction of the nativity scenes

January 23rd — 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Group I: Construction of the nativity scenes

January 23rd — 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Group II: Construction of the nativity scenes