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VILLAGE ARTWORK

Freixianda visits the Óbidos Museums and Galleries Network

The relationship between the sun and its impact on community life and the rural environment led participants from the village of Freixianda to use locally grown maize kernels and shirts to shape their collective work: The Union Sun is For Everyone.

The artwork “O Sol da União é Para Todos” (The Unity’s Sun if for Everyone) was created from peels and corn kernels grown in the region, donated by the community itself. The theme “The Sun” originated from the presentation of a sculpture by Master Aurélio, which alludes to the Miracle of Saint Martin of Tours, which was on display at Marcado do Peixe (Fish Market), in Freixianda. The miracle showcased by this sculpture symbolises the moment when Saint Martin donated a cloak to a beggar who was standing in the rain, and the sun appeared shortly afterwards. The community articulated the importance of the Sun and the influence it has on their lives. The constructed artwork thus reflects the result of collective thinking, emphasising its rural heritage by using maize.

The Unity’s Sun if for Everyone

Ourém, Portugal, 2021
Sculpture
Wood, peels and corn kernels, iron.

This artwork is a collective creation made by the communities of Freixianda, Formigais and Ribeira do Fárrio (Ourém) as part of SAMP’s project “Museu na Aldeia” (Village Museum).

Emília Simões | Idalina Simões | Manuel Gomes | Maria Alice Marques | Maria Augusta | Maria Conceição Pereira | Maria da Conceição Lourenço | Maria do Carmo Marques | Maria Emília Castelão | Maria Leal | Rosalina Lourenço

Technical support: Artymanha

Freixianda

Parish Councils of Freixianda, Ribeira do Fárrio and Formigais, Municipality of Ourém

Freixianda was once the scene of some historical events. D. Afonso Henriques and his army passed through there in 1147, as well as the camp of the French army, during its invasion in 1810. Regarding the region’s economic activity, the population of Freixianda was mostly dedicated to agriculture, with beans, potatoes and corn as the main crops. The latter occupied a central position at the heart of this community, where moments of collective work were organised to peel the maize. During these moments, according to the community, whoever found the king corn – the one with the red cob – had to hug everyone around them, in a gesture of togetherness and friendship.

O Milagre de São Martinho

The artwork that visited the Village

Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos goes to Freixianda

What is Saint Martin of Tours doing in a fish market? The sculpture, by the artist José Aurélio, was the work selected by the Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos to temporarily be part of the Freixianda community. The statue alludes to the moment when Saint Martin of Tours donated his cloak to a beggar who was standing in the rain and the miraculous appearance of the sun after this generous gesture.

view artwork

Meetings and Sharing

The Community welcomes an artwork from the Museum, inviting it into the heart of their village. This object becomes a catalyst, inspiring museum professionals and the artistic team to engage participants in a collaborative process. Together, they establish connections between the museum artwork, its reflection, and its ties to local heritage. Using local elements such as objects, songs, stories, and traditions, participants craft their own artwork. The celebration reaches its peak with the inauguration of a temporary exhibition in the museum. An artistic performance fosters connections among communities and museum professionals, strengthening bonds between them.

And so it was… Art as an invitation for encounters and connections.

Testimonials

(…) it ended up in the museum and I think it was appreciated by everyone and I like that. It was appreciated. I really enjoyed it. (…) The unity’s sun is for everyone. Whatever there is in the world is for everyone. It’s not just for you or someone else. If it is for everyone, no distinction is made. The sun is for everyone.

Maria Conceição, Community of Freixianda, Municipality of Ourém

The isolation of communities is already significant, and it has worsened further with the pandemic. However, the perseverance of the animators was crucial for social interaction, resulting in an opening of their hearts and revealing what was hidden there.


Paulo Luís Marques, President of the Union of Parishes Freixianda, Ribeira do Fárrio, and Formigais, Municipality of Ourém

Exhibitions Credits

  • Cultural Promoter
    SAMP – Sociedade Artística Musical dos Pousos
  • Co-financier
    Iniciativa Portugal Inovação Social
    Programa Operacional Social e de Emprego (PO ISE)
    Portugal 2020
    Fundo Social Europeu (FSE)
  • Social investor
    Câmara Municipal de Leiria
    Partner
    Rede Cultura 2027
  • In collaboration with
    Município de Ourém
    Município de Óbidos
    Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos
    União de Freguesias de Freixianda, Ribeira do Fárrio e Formigais
    União de Freguesias de Leiria, Pousos, Barreira e Cortes
  • Museums Working Group for “Rede Cultura 2027”
    Alberto Guerreiro | Museu Raul da Bernarda
    Sónia Santos | Município de Ourém
    Bruno Silva | Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos
    Dóris Santos | Museu Dr. Joaquim Manso
    Filipe Guimarães da Silva | Fundação Mário Soares e Maria Barroso
    Jorge Figueiredo | Município de Porto de Mós
    Luís Figueiredo | Museu Damião de Góis e das Vítimas da Inquisição
    Margarida Moleiro | Museu Municipal Carlos Reis
    Raquel Janeirinho | Rede Museológica do Concelho de Peniche
    Vânia Carvalho | Museu de Leiria
  • The 13 Villages
    Alcanadas (Batalha) | Louriceira de Cima (Arruda dos Vinhos) | Ateanha (Ansião) | Cabeças (Alvaiázere) | Cercal (Cadaval) | Columbeira (Bombarral) | Fanhais (Nazaré) | Freixianda (Ourém) | Folgarosa (Torres Vedras) | Mosteiro (Pedrógão Grande) | São Bento (Porto de Mós) | Fetelaria (Sobral de Monte Agraço) | Pena e Casal da Pena (Torres Novas)
  • The 13 Museums
    Casa do Tempo (Castanheira de Pera) | Centro de Artes Caldas da Rainha | Centro de Estudos em Fotografia de Tomar | Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos | Museu de Arte Popular Portuguesa (Pombal) | Museu da Lourinhã | Museu de Aguarela Roque Gameiro (Alcanena) | Museu de Leiria | Museu do Vidro (Marinha Grande) | Museu e Centro de Artes de Figueiró dos Vinhos | Museu Damião de Góis e das Vítimas da Inquisição (Alenquer) | Museu Raul da Bernarda (Alcobaça) | Rede Museológica do Concelho de Peniche

    The project also had the collaboration of museums from the 26 participating municipalities.
  • SAMP Contigo | Coordination
    Raquel Gomes
  • Museu na Aldeia | Coordination
    Gabriela da Rocha
    Sofia Neves
  • Museu na Aldeia | Teams of the project
    • SAMP | Artistic team
      Bruno Homem | Musician
      Filipa Cunha | Musician
      Inesa Markava | Artistic Performance Director
      Jesus Kristen | Musician
      Raquel Gomes | Community Artist
      Ruben Santos | Musician
      Sofia Neves | Actress
    • SAMP | Technical team
      Ana Figueiredo | Communication and Content Manager
      Cátia Gaio | Logistic and Financial Support
      Gabriela da Rocha | Museologist
      Henrique Chaves | Sociologist
      Lara Matos | Degree in Social Psychology
      Leonor Capricho | Graphic Designer
      Ismael Neves | Logistic and Financial Support
      Telma Pereira | Production
    • Texts
      Ana Figueiredo | SAMP
      Bruno Silva | Rede de Museus e Galeria de Óbidos
      Gabriela da Rocha | SAMP
      Henrique Chaves | SAMP
      Sofia Neves | SAMP
    • Photography credits
      Team | SAMP
      Gil de Lemos
    • Museography and museology
      Bruno Silva | Rede de Museus e Galeria de Óbidos
      Gabriela da Rocha | SAMP
    • Graphic design and illustration
      Henrique Martinowski
      Leonor Capricho | SAMP
    • Exhibition set-up
      Bruno Silva | Rede de Museus e Galeria de Óbidos
      Cátia Gaio | SAMP
      Gabriela da Rocha | SAMP
      Leonor Capricho | SAMP
      Inês Soares e Lorenzo Scodeller | Novonovo
    • Exhibition equipment design
      Rafael Sabino | Novonovo
      Tânia Martins | Novonovo
    • Technical support
      Nelson Cunha | Artymanha
    • Specialised transportation of the artwork
      RNTrans – Grupo URBANOS
    • Insurance of the artwork
      LUSITANIA, Companhia de Seguros, SA
    • Acknowledgements
      Comunidades de Freixianda, Ribeira do Fárrio e Formigais
      Equipa e feirantes do Mercado do Peixe
      Equipa da Rede de Museus e Galerias de Óbidos
      Mestre José Aurélio
      União das Freguesias de Freixianda, Ribeira do Fárrio e Formigais
      Politécnico de Leiria
      União de Freguesias de Leiria, Pousos, Barreira e Cortes
      ANAFS – Associação Nacional de Alistados das Formações Sanitárias

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