Art can be a powerful means of incorporating coastal conservation criteria, educating and raising awareness among the population about the importance of preserving natural heritage.

This project is being developed on 52 boats that rest in the Manzanillo mangrove swamp, in the province of Montecristi, Dominican Republic.

This is a landscape work that alters the appearance of the mangrove. The boats, through the use of colour, become another species in the ecosystem.

CONTEXT

The province of Montecristi is located in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, right on the border with Haiti. It is a unique natural enclave with the largest wetland ecosystem in the country.

Right next to the Atlantic Ocean and the Masacre River, at the end of the province, lies Pepillo Salcedo. It is a very small community, whose wealth of biodiversity makes fishing the main economy of the town.
And it is precisely there, at the edge of the mangrove swamp, the place called Estero Balsa, in a really precarious area. There is the small local dock, where all the old boats are anchored, waiting for the fishermen to go out to fish during the night.

Aerial view of Pepillo Salcedo

Fishing pier in Estero Balsa

DESIGN

The project has a double objective:
On the one hand, improving the conditions of precarious vessels through a collaborative process that incorporates the fishermen themselves in their restoration.

On the other hand, to generate a new identity linked to raising awareness regarding marine biodiversity, which is so severely affected in this area and on whose balance the economy of the region depends. Focusing especially on the Parrotfish as a fundamental element in the Caribbean ecosystem.

Different species of parrotfish

Fair

The Tarpon

Yeliza

Holy Teresita

Maria Enriqueta

Karina

COLLABORATIVE PROCESS

For this project we had the support of various associations. Specifically, the fishermen's association and the mothers' association, who were involved throughout the process and felt the project was their own.
We began our process by sharing with them the background and objectives of the project. We also discussed the schedule and called for volunteers who might be interested in painting with us. As for the fishermen, we were also able to create the first attempt at a census of boats to be painted. The reception at both meetings was extraordinary.

Boat cleaning and sanding process

Primer

Mrs. Rafaela