Nikolas Barrera - ¡VAMOS! Festival Director
So finally my turn!
My personal drive for the ¡VAMOS! project comes from predominantly my family connection. My father is Colombian and although a vague presence in my life the intrigue with that area of the world has always been strong. Since my late teens I felt a more tangible awareness of South America and in particular Colombia.
Whilst studying in Bristol I first delved into this part of my life via a series of photographic self-portraits where I had no expectations of the results. From this work I developed a clearer inner dialogue about my father, roots and Colombia. I returned to this with a handmade artists book during my degree in Newcastle and in more detail with my final degree show. For this, fellow artist Antony Dominic and I took over a discussed cafe in central Newcastle (Starlings Cafe). Once the focus and hub for artists in the region with canvases emblazoned on it's walls, we strove to bring life to it again via our compatible installations. On the ground floor I presented a slide projection and audio soundtrack piece that combined dialogues from my mother, father and myself and attempted to come to terms with a recently fallen-through Bogotá rendezvous. Alongside the ponchos and wall hangings presented as museum-like relics was served the Colombian delicacy Hot Chocolate and Cheese in black earthen-ware bowls - offering some respite to the usual Clayton Street drag (some things never change!). Downstairs Antony illustrated simplicity itself via two static slide projections of himself presented within one artificially built up church-like environment and the other a raw claustrophobic cavern. Incense burnt incessantly to add to the still and austere atmosphere. A beautiful piece.
Years later having made a renewed connection with my father I finally traveled to Bogotá to meet him and little brother Julian. This was as expected, an enriching, surreal, intense experience that was dominated by the joy of meeting my little brother and slowly getting to know my father for the first time.
Once back in the UK I worked alongside Andy Hockey, Dave Guy, Andrew Nixon, Mark Outermission, Raj and Suj Pannu on 'Traveller Clubnight'. A weekly club event where we hoped to provide a mixture of exotic escapism in central Newcastle. Again my preoccupation and love for Latin America was collectivally expressed via the grainy super 8 footage, photographic slideshows, the backroom tropical fruit, the open minded and worldly guest DJs and live acts, leafage, fruit and foliage in the occasional third room, the inflatable globes above the dance floor and the South American imagery on the publicity and not forgetting the music we excitedly bought and played each week. ¡VAMOS! would definitely not have happened without this shared experience.
From that time I have continued to DJ Latin based music of all styles and the Colombian connection is regularly referenced in 'Names' audio-visual work. Since early 2003 I have feverishly worked with 'Name' business partner Andrew Nixon on developing the ¡VAMOS! project. A year later I was put in contact with Vanessa Knights and Ian Biddle from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne who were working on a Latin and Lusophone Music Conference planned for a similar time. We combined the two projects and the project/programme has hugely benefited as a result. The ¡VAMOS! programme would not be what it is without the contributions from all the festival partners (from programmers, academics, Djs and restaurateurs etc). For showing the same enthusiasm and faith we are very, very grateful!
We are indebted to our main partners and funders NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Arts Council North East, Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council, The Northern Rock Foundation, CETL (Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning - Music and Inclusivity), Culture Club and the Sponsors Club for Arts and Business on this long haul project! If you have time please give us feedback on the first ¡VAMOS! Festival to allow us to develop further the festival for it's return in 2008!
I am personally indebted to Andrew, Ian, Vanessa and Jill for their relentless support, advice, expertise and energy.