*Please note: In order to maximize your working and creative time at this workshop in Cusco we would encourage to you arrive at least one day prior for altitude acclimatization. An alternative would be to spend a night or two in The Sacred Valley which is at a slightly lower elevation and just an hour’s drive from Cusco. We include a short list of recommended locations on the Resources page of the B&B. The return flight out of Cusco should be scheduled for the day after the last day (please contact us if you have any concerns regarding this timing).
In this workshop, we combine the local knowledge of Adam L Weintraub with the serial book-maker, Daniel Milnor – both of whom incorporate wit, style, space and subject alluringly into their own work. Here we delve deep into the processions, the parades, the spectacle and the symbolism of Holy Week in a strong Catholic community with deeply spiritual peoples. Daniel will address many of the considerations of preparation and perspective, of project and image while Adam will address local customs and offers insight into local events.
We’ll meet each day for several hours as a group to review ideas, share work and discuss options and then cast off again as we search for meaning in a city alive with passion and symbolism. Semana Santa will lay the backdrop for this series, but the foundation is pure Inca. Cusco will be bursting with ambition and religious pageantry, but Machu Picchu will shine its spirit while the Sacred Valley will balance our observations. We will then have two-hour 1-on-2 with each participant meeting privately with Adam and Daniel to discuss direction and edits, style and substance, as we wind down the dance and determine what else we need to encapsulate our ideas and our vision?
Optional three-day Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu add-on through April 7th :
Leaving from Cusco early-afternoon on April 5th, we’ll travel by private bus from Panza del Artista through the gorgeous plateau of the Andean farmlands towards the Sacred Valley. We’ll work our way to the agricultural amphitheatre of Moray – three large terraced circles penetrating deep into the Andean mountains, thought to have been used as experimentation sites for Incan crops. We'll then wind our way to the modern-day salt terraces of Maras.
We’ll spend some time marveling over the geometrical possibilities of the circular indentations of Moray and the trapezoidal terraces of crystallizing salt ponds. We’ll continue working our way down into the Valley from there on foot where we’ll rendezvous with our ride towards the original Incan village of Ollantaytambo. We’ll spend the night there near the Urubamba river.
On the 6th we’ll head to Aguas Calientes on the first train out, arrive at our hotel and head straight up to Machu Picchu where our first-rate guide will act as a bouncing board of ideas. We’ll offer the afternoon off for alternative hikes around Machu Picchu, away from Machu Picchu or in the town of Aguas Calientes, itself. A delicious dinner and an early bedtime for us as the morning of the 7th we’re up at 5am to get to the ruins before the trains of tourists even leave Cusco. That’s three hours of heavenly solitude and introspection for us at one of the world’s most memorable sites.
As we come down from our Machu Picchu high, we’ll take the early train back to Ollantaytambo for our private ride to the town of Urubamba for lunch. We’ll then return towards Cusco via the market town of Pisac – those that wish to visit the ruins may do so, but most of us would probably prefer to wonder the cobbled streets and visit the many stalls selling local artisan crafts and souvenirs. We’ll head back to Cusco for a few glasses of Pisco to top off the trip!
*A detailed and daily itinerary is available upon request and will be sent to all those who register for this workshop. Please note changes to the itinerary are not uncommon.
