"Chaque pays a sa loi, chaque mason sa coutume"
(Each country has its system of laws, each house its customs)
Basque Proverb
For those of you who pause at this page, I would like to suggest the notion that travel is art and the artist's task is to discover the "genius loci," or spirit of place, which is present in every event or journey, then, while respecting its fundamental structure, portray that spirit for others to aid their own journey.
The concept of "spirit of place" was proposed by the English writer Lawrence Durrell in his essay by that name. It is meant to denote those distinctive characteristics of a given region or city. It implies that each place possesses a set of inherent and fundamental attributes that determine a uniqueness of landscape and people.
The artist as traveler explores each place, seeing those characteristics which reveal unique differences at each turn. The picture takes shape at each bustling, cosmopolitan city and quiet, pastoral hamlet; each farmer, hot and sweaty from toiling endlessly under the summer sun; each ivy draped, Gothic cathedral; and each winding country lane shadowed by aged oaks enhances the portrait which depict the experience of the journey.
I would suggest that you, as artist, must become properly equipped with the skills and tools to evoke the mysteries of the spirits for your portrait. Whether you are a mature or inexperienced artist, being properly equipped make the difference between seeing only the shadows or perceiving the richness of color inherent in the structures of the "genius loci." It is our desire at Folkways to provide the conceptual framework and canvas, to equip you for portraying the unique experiences which will characterize your journey.
Introduction to Folkways International Trekking Catalogue - Treks & Outings 1985-1986
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| Woodcut by Joyce Morgan |
