16 July: Sheep spotting

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Sheep in the dunes. Pnoto by Milda Laužikaitė, 2021.

 
Friday, 16 July at sunrise
Shepherdess in residency, Milda Laužikaitė, with National Park and NAC teams, moves the flock from Grobštas Nature Reserve to the Silent Valley across the dunes. 
 
After finishing the grass, the herd of Skude sheep is moving to the Valley of Silence. 
 
This walk is a contemplation on the distinction between two only and precious meadows of Neringa – Grobštas Strict Nature Reserve and The Valley of Silence. The first one is protected from people, the second - touristic.  The walk through the desert that connects both is a shift of perspective from being a shepherd-tourist in the wild to being a sheep-tourist in an urban environment. What is in the centre of nature? What is in the centre of the meadow? What is in the centre of the forest? Is there a centre at all? How and where we can meet with the Other?
 
When I walk in front, I am a leader, and they follow slowly, when I walk behind, I am a dog, and they run fast, when I am in the middle of the herd, we are just walking together. How will I cross the desert between the strict nature reserve and highly touristic meadow of the city of Neringa? As a leader, as a dog, or as a symbiont?
 
The sheep will be accompanied on their road by Sheppherdess in Residency Milda Laužikaitė and artist and sheep owner Laura Garšbtienė.