Campito
Campito focuses on investigative strategies for mobile design, landscape, collaboration, and social responsibility pertaining to the Western American sheep wagon or "campito". Our goal for this project was to thoroughly study the past and current design principles employed by sheep wagons, research the conditions in and around the structure, and ultimately redesign a number of prototypes for what a sheep wagon could become in the 21st century. In July 2010 the first phase of Campito was included as part of The Biennial of the Americas in Denver, Colorado and titled ¡Rediseñar los Campitos! (Redesign the sheep wagons!).
Sheep wagons have for the most part been surviving on a design philosophy developed at the end of the 19th century; a slightly evolved version of the covered wagon of pioneer times. ¡Rediseñar los Campitos! was an experiment in research, education, and design manifested through a public art action. The action and research materials distributed projected to the larger public what be possible for the future of sheepherding on the Western landscape.
Campito explores inventive designs for a mobile dwelling unit based on the experiences and activities of the contemporary sheepherder. A series of conceptual designs play with the dualistic qualities of the sheep wagon—freedom and standardization, art and science, structure and spontaneity, and the vast nature of perpetual unresolved conflicts of cultural heritage and human treatment. Each design includes the addition of a solar energy platform, a composting toilet and heated shower, global communications system, fire escape, and a portable garden for fresh vegetables.
The project as a whole looks to stimulate community dialogue about the campito and larger subjects inherently tied to its present day reality; heritage of the American West, contemporary agriculture and food production, globalization, immigration, workers rights, and federal policies and practices. The project fuses contemporary, historical and geographical knowledge with the intention of putting it to use on the future Western American landscape.
¡Rediseñar los Campitos! was supported by The Biennial of the Americas, The University of Colorado at Boulder, Zeppelin Development, and private donors. The Biennial of the Americas graciously acknowledges the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado as the generous sponsor of their Cultural Partner’s Program. Additional project support was provided by: the Colorado Wool Growers Association, Jake Carpenter, Steve Levalley, Jennifer Lee, Thomas Acker, Ignacio Alvarado.
Interns: Yolanda María Chichester, Jon Geiger, Kim Inglis, and Adrianna Santiago