Rural Hackers

We would like to invite the Craft Practitioner to co-create a new chapter within our ongoing project, Pegadas do Recordo. This initiative focuses on preserving the invisible heritage of our village, Anceu, through storytelling, co-creation with local residents, and digital memory trails. So far, we have recorded over ten memory capsules that are accessible via QR-coded signage throughout the village. The stories cover everything from ancient legends to the daily lives of elders, creating a rich tapestry of community memory.

For this exchange, we envision co-creating two public benches inspired by local stories. The benches will be made from recycled or upcycled materials, including wood from eucalyptus trees—an invasive species we are actively removing—as well as other reused materials available on site. Each bench will be linked to a specific story told by a villager, making the final craft pieces both functional and deeply symbolic. These benches will serve as physical markers of intangible heritage, offering visitors and locals a place to rest, reflect, and connect with the memory embedded in the land.

The creative process will include one-on-one storytelling sessions, design and prototyping phases, material sourcing, and community input. The benches will be installed as part of the Pegadas do Recordo trail, expanding the project beyond digital signage into tangible forms of memory preservation.

We will offer our expertise in community facilitation, audiovisual documentation, upcycling practices, and digital fabrication (vinyl cutting, plastic recycling, etc.). In exchange, we are looking to learn from the craft practitioner’s technical craft knowledge, particularly in sustainable design, woodworking, and material experimentation. We are especially interested in creative approaches that merge functionality and narrative, and which can inspire future adaptations of this project in other rural settings.

More information about the project here https://linktr.ee/pegadas.do.recordo