Gallery of affections
This gallery represents the best within each of us. In it, we display our feelings, what we want to share, our desire to be with each other and - above all else - one of the most genuine ways of spreading joy: affection! In this gallery, there are no walls, no fences, for affection cannot be restrained. In this gallery, there is no order, for affection manifests whenever it pleases. This gallery has no ruler, no master, for affection is free and spontaneous, connecting everyone who receives it or comes in contact with it.
This gallery is ever-changing, as its mission is to make sure that no matter where or when affection arrives, it grows and multiples in time and space, putting a smile on the faces of everyone who finds them. Each of the pieces in this collection was offered or presented by people who cross our paths and express gratitude, trust, and willingness to have one’s life touched by another.
Rock
“In our next session, I’ll bring you something special that I found!”, this words were uttered in São Bento, as soon as one of the participants saw the Rendas de Bilros de Peniche. And so it was… Wrapped in white paper, there was a rock, but it wasn’t just any rock.
“This rock has many small holes, just like the Rendas. There you go, you can have it!”
Affection from the Village of São Bento, Municipality of Pedrógão Grande.
Camera
Behind the lens, the sensible gaze of a son that left.
Donated by a loving couple from the village of Mosteiro, this camera was one of the many objects of affection that were offered to CEFT – Centro de Estudos em Fotografia de Tomar, after their visit to the community.
Affection from the Village of Mosteiro, Municipality of Pedrógão Grande.
magical stones
“If this street was mine
I would bid someone to tile it
With pebbles made of diamond
Only for my love to walk by.”
(Chidren´s song named “Se essa rua fosse minha”)
Loaded with creativity and very skillful hands, the participants from Folgarosa transformed common stones into sparkling treasures.
Affection from the Village of Folgarosa, Municipality of Torres Vedras.
birds
– I only came to watch my friends today.
Said one of the participants to the project team at the collective work creation session.
– That’s ok, but we’ll need you to do us a favor. Could you fix these corn’s outer leaves? They’re very wrinkly and we need to use them for the artwork.
And so it was… We came back to the other participants and resumed the session. Later, we returned to check up on the lady and we spotted something different in her hands: it was a bird!
Not only had she fixed the corn’s outer leaves, but she also occupied herself with bringing to existence a bird that was imprisoned in her imagination!
Affection from the Village of Freixianda, Municipality of Ourém.
Windmill
Gazing over the horizon in the Village of Pena e Casal da Pena, we are able to identify a group of windmills – local patrimony. The skillful hands of the community created an artwork as an homage to this patrimony. Made out of cans, concrete and reeds, this windmill was offered to the winds that, from afar, come to visit them.
Affection from the Village of Pena e Casal da Pena, Municipality of Torres Novas.
STRAWBERRY
Sweet and red, strawberries are nature’s kisses!
Affection from the Village of Freixianda, Municipality of Ourém.
Wool toys
Small beings made of strings, colors and silence. They inhabit a huge century-old walnut tree, with deep roots filled with endless stories.
Affection from the Village of Freixianda, Municipality of Ourém.
CROCHET
Crochet! Crochet! Crochet!
Affection from the village of Alcanadas, Municipality of Batalha.
The Sun of Union is for All
We came here to Óbidos,
To present our play
It’s not the statue of São Martinho
It is, therefore, a sun of enchantment
We are few, but we are good
From this union of parishes
We composed our sun
That gives light every day
To create our piece
We used the corn of our land
From the ears we made the rays
And the seeds, the work encloses
Oh sun, that you are far away
I cannot put my hands on you
Because of this, in Freixianda
This sun we wanted to compose
The sun, when it rises, is for everyone
From the smallest to the biggest
Rainy day is very good
But sunny is much better
While we made this work
We began to realize
The most important thing in this hour
Is the union that was growing
(Idalina Simões, from the community of Freixianda).
Affection from the village of Freixianda, Municipality of Ourém.
stars
These crochet stars were made and given at Christmas time.
Affection from the village of Freixianda, Municipality of Ourém.
Bird-shaped walking stick
Crafted with mastery, this cane was a special gift from the village of Mosteiro. Slowly sculpted with the help of a hand knife, little by little, a bird started to emerge, now forever resting over the wood.
Affection from the Village of Mosteiro, Municipality of Pedrógão Grande.
Cabeças
I’m not a poet
I don’t know what to do
I only know with my hand
I can write verses
We’re from Cabeças
Maçãs is the parish
The county is Alvaiázere
The district is Leiria
Many little heads we’ve been molding
Each one has its own grace
Now they will stay
In the museum of Alcobaça
We want to thank you
For this great and happy idea
For bringing us
The Museum to our village
This was a lovely get-together
With our little heads molding
We were singing and laughing
But our hands were always working
Thank you to everyone
Who participated in this initiative
It was a different experience for us
It will always stay in our lives
Now we want to give you
With much love and dedication
A big hug we will leave you
From the bottom of our hearts
The little fish want water
The little birds want freedom
We ask for you
All the best!
(Felizarda Rosa, from the community of Cabeças)
Affection from the village of Cabeças, Municipality of Alvaiázere.
Plant in a tiny pot
“Music brings people together!”
“Art allows us to see!”
Affection can be alive and green, like these plants with loving messages!
Affection from the village of Fanhais, Municipality of Nazaré.
Mother´s Fabric bread bags
“In the past, we used to store bread in cloth bags. It was the best way to keep the bread fresh and soft for longer. This bag belonged to my mother and must be years old, maybe more than 100!”
Affection from the village of Alcanadas, Municipality of Batalha.
Sweet rice pudding of the Museum in the Village
In the village of Folgarosa, the Museu na Aldeia project came to life and tradition and creativity gave a very special flavor to the dessert present on all Portuguese tables: rice pudding!
Affection from the Village of Folgarosa, Municipality of Torres Vedras.
Crochet bag
A little gift I made for the pretty girls!
Affection from Ateanha, Municipality of Ansião.
Long live Cercal
Long live to Cercal
Beautiful Portuguese village
Like it, there is no equal
Full of charm and beauty
There from the mills
The divine landscape
Is one of the most beautiful corners
Of the lands of Portugal
Affection from the Village of Cercal, Municipality of Cadaval.
Resin workers
In the 1960s, a couple of French tourists recorded in photographs their visit to Nazaré, where their attention turned to a group of resin workers dedicated to working in the pine forests of Fanhais. Among these beautiful images, one of them captured the mother of one of the participants of the Museu na Aldeia project.
Affection from the village of Fanhais, Municipality of Nazaré.
Football match at Columbeira
In the village of Columbeira, there is a sports field that once hosted lively soccer matches. In this particular photo, we can see a vibrant women’s soccer team posing before the match.
Affection from the village of Columbeira, Municipality of Bombarral.
marriage
My parents were married in the Chapel of Senhor Jesus da Boa Hora in the village of Columbeira.
Affection from the village of Columbeira, Municipality of Bombarral.
babies!
As the Museu na Aldeia project grew, so did the little miracles in the team implementing it: babies! And even before they came into the world, they were graced by their communities.
Affections from the communities of Ateanha, Municipality of Ansião, and Folgarosa, Municipality of Torres Vedras.
Music from Pinecones
Who says you can’t make music from pine cones? In Fanhais, we have the greatest pine cone player in Portugal still making music!
Affection from the village of Fanhais, Municipality of Nazaré.
ALCANADAS MY VILLAGE
Alcanadas my little village
Where I spent my happy youth
Your fountains of pure and crystalline water
Where the girls go to the fountain with longing
Through the streets night and day all the time
The voice sounds in beauty in singing
You are the simplest village where the humble people stroll
At night in the clear moonlight
Through the streets walks the fragrant smell
The soft scent of the vineyards
Where lovers pass in the evening
Telling their secrets quietly
In the chapel an imposing feast
Ancient of old traditions
In this song I sang and in the old people I noticed
The longing in their poor hearts
Affection from the village of Alcanadas, Municipality of Batalha.
scarves
For the “Great Encounter” the ladies of the village of Folgarosa created unique scarves, hand-painted with themes chosen by each village representative. As a special gesture, an extra piece was dedicated to the project team, making the moment even more memorable.
Affection from the village of Folgarosa, Municipality of Torres Vedras.
Lace
This lace was used in the creation of the collective artwork of Mosteiro, generously donated by one of the participants who employed it to create effects in the photographs.
Affection coming from the village of Mosteiro, Municipality of Pedrógão Grande.