Tealemetree *
* Tea = a traditional beverage made from steeping the processed leaves, buds in water.
Telemetry = The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure.
Tree = There is no universally recognized precise definition of what a tree is, neither botanically nor in common language.
16 people from varied backgrounds + # tealemetree tables + tea cups + hot water + forest as a lab = many interesting explorations and discussions.
How do you see the world around you?
It amazed me the variety of explorations and dialogues that could be prompted by the simple addition of some table into the forest along with teacups, hot water and a bag of measurement tools.
After getting introduced to each other, we were introduced to the Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station and SMEAR (Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmospheric Relations) and some of the measurement techniques and devices that they have.
I went into this weekend not quite knowing what to expect, leaving the Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station with a glimmer of insight into a very special and unique place. The SMEAR Station (and the Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station have already began a unique exchange within the discipline of science also openly sharing their recordings, tests and research. The trans-disciplinary exploration and dialogue continued and expanded through the Tealemetree Workshop and the addition of artists and designers.
Tough questions were asked and explored that were relevant to all fields—how do we establish value? ideas of objectivity and subjectivity and how they impact our work.
As part of the project Agnes had already prepared a tealemetree station that monitored, recorded and translated the steam from tea cups and had placed tables in the forest to create our own tealemetree stations in groups.
My tealemetree station partner Aino and I among other things explored how things are classified—how are categories determined by both easy to measure and more objective terms, creating a new system- Systema Naturae 2.0 that also serve as table decoration and prompt tea time conversation and activity. We all shared our explorations and had continued dialogue during the tea exchanges.
Conversations continued in the Sauna and at the bbq along the lake and in the sauna kuta.
I was also able to visit the Orivesi Church (1961) designed by Heikki Siren and part of the original wooden church, although unfortunately only from the outside.
Besides enjoying the opportunity of being immersed in Finnish nature, (literally jumping in the cold Lake Kuivajärvi) I left seeing how important these types of trans-disciplinary workshops are for not only for understanding the work that others are doing, but for your own. The workshop created dialogue and understandings between people working side by side at the station that may not have previously really had the opportunity to explore and have fun with what the others did. The reaches of what I experienced and learned will go far beyond this weekend.
See some more images from the weekend on my flickr page
and also listen to the silence of the Lake Kuivajärvi.
and see a video of a thermal camera image of tea pouring
Some additional links: Tealemetree website , Biofilia @ Aalto University, Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station, and info on the SMEAR Station