AMASS Coordinator: University of Lapland
Country Coordinator: University of Lapland
Research team: Satu Miettinen, Melanie Sarantou, Mirja Hiltunen, Maria Huhmarniemi, Amna Qureshi
Case studies and their artists and main stakeholders
Love Talks
Mirja Hiltunen with Pieta Koskenniemi
Al-Fateh Ali Mousa, Maker and activist
Saba Majid, artist / art educator
Juha Mytkäniemi, graffiti artist / art educator
Leena Pukki, mural painter / fine artist
Matti Martiskainen, street dancer / social worker
Miia Kettunen, community artist / bio artist
Hilja Grönfors, folk musician / Roma singer
Minna Siitonen, folk musician / conductor of Rovaniemi city theatre
Video documentation and production-team: Karoliina Räikkönen, Nelli Pentti, Arttu Nieminen
Art education, project students, winter/spring (2019-2020)
-Lapin Muistiyhdistys ry: Love-workshops (for 12 elderly women)
Vilma Länsikallio & a Anniina Jokitalo
-Youth work, mural hides etc: Susanna Lehtonen, Sippola Mira, Luokkanen Heidi
Lapin Muistyhdistys Ry (the Memory Association of Lapland), a daytime activity centre for the elderly, Rovaniemi Youth Service and Revontuli Shopping Centre. The event took place in 1.1.2020–31.10.2020.
AMAS – Weird
Mirja Hiltunen with the Utsjoki Community
Utsjoki Sámi Upper Secondary School
Utsjoki River Valley School Centre, teachers and pupils (100 pax)
Art education students of the University of Lapland: Halen Samuli , Kangas-Korhonen Sara, Karppinen Iida-Maria , Pitkänen Pulmu, Mattila Henna, Pölönen Elisa
SoftPowerArt
Artists Amir Abdi, Maria Huhmarniemi, Taina Kontio, Satu Miettinen, Mari Mäkiranta, Heidi Pietarinen, Raisa Raekallio, Melanie Sarantou and Misha del Val.
The experiment included following artists productions:
Is Money a Dirty Word?
Melanie Sarantou, Niina Karvinen and Mariluz Soto
The experiment included the following artistic productions:
Visually Engaging Youth project
Amna Qureshi
The evolving Visual Literacy themed artistic experiment was followed by one upon the other case studies resulted in developing the research in 4 cycles that are listed below. The case study was arranged in collaboration with faculties of Education and Art and Design in the University of Lapland.
ThinkARTank
Mira Alhonsuo and Melanie Sarantou
The experiment was supported by MA Design students of the University of Lapland: Maarit Alikoski, Chau-Hsien Kuo and Yiling Li.
What was the main research approach for all case-studies?
The research design followed mixed methods strategies, predominantly with a qualitative focus, in addition to approaches such as arts-based action research, experiments and artistic research. The research data consisted of qualitative personal interviews, focus group discussions, storytelling, qualitative surveys, participant observations, various forms of note taking through personal diaries and digital note taking. Visual data included photographs and video.
What was explored in the different case-studies?
Case studies brought together community members, children, artists and researchers who address the role of the arts in expressing cultural identities and political, especially environmental views. All artists had a unique focus embedded in their work, which was broadened and diversified through additional themes ranging from visual literacy, cultural identity, feminist ethnography, bioarts, community arts, socially engaged arts and wellbeing perspectives. Some of the projects focused on, for example, the societal challenges of minority and gender equality and visibility in Northern communities. Artists worked both individually and collectively to address additional issues such as the role of the arts in expressing strong political views and how to impact the representation, ownership and roles that women have in the decision-making.
Country Coordinator: University of Lapland
Research team: Satu Miettinen, Melanie Sarantou, Mirja Hiltunen, Maria Huhmarniemi, Amna Qureshi
Case studies and their artists and main stakeholders
Love Talks
Mirja Hiltunen with Pieta Koskenniemi
Al-Fateh Ali Mousa, Maker and activist
Saba Majid, artist / art educator
Juha Mytkäniemi, graffiti artist / art educator
Leena Pukki, mural painter / fine artist
Matti Martiskainen, street dancer / social worker
Miia Kettunen, community artist / bio artist
Hilja Grönfors, folk musician / Roma singer
Minna Siitonen, folk musician / conductor of Rovaniemi city theatre
Video documentation and production-team: Karoliina Räikkönen, Nelli Pentti, Arttu Nieminen
Art education, project students, winter/spring (2019-2020)
-Lapin Muistiyhdistys ry: Love-workshops (for 12 elderly women)
Vilma Länsikallio & a Anniina Jokitalo
-Youth work, mural hides etc: Susanna Lehtonen, Sippola Mira, Luokkanen Heidi
Lapin Muistyhdistys Ry (the Memory Association of Lapland), a daytime activity centre for the elderly, Rovaniemi Youth Service and Revontuli Shopping Centre. The event took place in 1.1.2020–31.10.2020.
AMAS – Weird
Mirja Hiltunen with the Utsjoki Community
Utsjoki Sámi Upper Secondary School
Utsjoki River Valley School Centre, teachers and pupils (100 pax)
Art education students of the University of Lapland: Halen Samuli , Kangas-Korhonen Sara, Karppinen Iida-Maria , Pitkänen Pulmu, Mattila Henna, Pölönen Elisa
SoftPowerArt
Artists Amir Abdi, Maria Huhmarniemi, Taina Kontio, Satu Miettinen, Mari Mäkiranta, Heidi Pietarinen, Raisa Raekallio, Melanie Sarantou and Misha del Val.
The experiment included following artists productions:
- Reflections in water (Taina Kontio, Satu Miettinen)
- Forest Talks to Us (Maria Huhmarniemi as a curator)
- Battle & Sense of Forest Conflict in Lapland (Maria Huhmarniemi)
- Co-creation with nature (Amir Abdi)
- Mindfulness and Drawing in Ilulissat (Misha del Val)
- Kittilä Youngsters (Raisa Raekallio)
- Five Salmon and Two Fish (Satu Miettinen, Taina Kontio, Mari Mäkiranta, Melanie Sarantou)
- Naked Narratives (Satu Miettinen, Heidi Pietarinen, Melanie Sarantou)
Is Money a Dirty Word?
Melanie Sarantou, Niina Karvinen and Mariluz Soto
The experiment included the following artistic productions:
- The Nomadic Radical Academy (Marija Griniuk)
- BioARTech: Roots stitching (Melanie Sarantou, Heidi Pietarinen, Satu Miettinen)
- Growth, Death and Decay (Heidi Pietarinen, Satu Miettinen, Melanie Sarantou, Tomi Knuutila, Terhi Marttila, Outi Valanto)
- Promoting Awareness of Sustainability through Cultural Practice (Chau-Hsien Kuo)
- Empathy Hack (co-funded by FinCeal Plus BRIDGES)
Visually Engaging Youth project
Amna Qureshi
The evolving Visual Literacy themed artistic experiment was followed by one upon the other case studies resulted in developing the research in 4 cycles that are listed below. The case study was arranged in collaboration with faculties of Education and Art and Design in the University of Lapland.
- Meaning Making and Interpretation through Personal Mandalas in the Context of Visual Literacy (Amna Qureshi, Melanie Sarantou, Satu Miettinen)
Art & Design Students (4), 2021, University of Lapland. - Documentation of Reflective and Interpretive Representation of Youth: A Study through Rudimentary Photographic Close-ups in the Context of Visual Literacy (Amna Qureshi)
Art & Design Students (4), 2021, University of Lapland. - Flag – A Shared Horizon (Heidi Pietarinen, Amna Qureshi, Melanie Sarantou)
Fashion, textile art and material study students (12) and artist-researchers (3), 2021-2022, University of Lapland. - Integrating Visual Design thinking with Creative Processes to Enhance Children’s Visual Literacy (Amna Qureshi)
Summer workshop held at University of Lapland (June 2021), 16 young children (aged between 10 -12 years), 2021-2022, University of Lapland.
ThinkARTank
Mira Alhonsuo and Melanie Sarantou
The experiment was supported by MA Design students of the University of Lapland: Maarit Alikoski, Chau-Hsien Kuo and Yiling Li.
What was the main research approach for all case-studies?
The research design followed mixed methods strategies, predominantly with a qualitative focus, in addition to approaches such as arts-based action research, experiments and artistic research. The research data consisted of qualitative personal interviews, focus group discussions, storytelling, qualitative surveys, participant observations, various forms of note taking through personal diaries and digital note taking. Visual data included photographs and video.
What was explored in the different case-studies?
Case studies brought together community members, children, artists and researchers who address the role of the arts in expressing cultural identities and political, especially environmental views. All artists had a unique focus embedded in their work, which was broadened and diversified through additional themes ranging from visual literacy, cultural identity, feminist ethnography, bioarts, community arts, socially engaged arts and wellbeing perspectives. Some of the projects focused on, for example, the societal challenges of minority and gender equality and visibility in Northern communities. Artists worked both individually and collectively to address additional issues such as the role of the arts in expressing strong political views and how to impact the representation, ownership and roles that women have in the decision-making.