Art Against Brutality - by Claudia Bernardi

Book Synopsis

Art Against Brutality brings a much-needed contribution to the field of community arts and the burgeoning field of social practice art, as well as adding to post-conflict literature, dealing with the aftermath of state terro in Latin America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, México) and with native people in the United States. It outlines truly collaborative approaches, based on ideas from the community participants, rather than shaped by the facilitating artist. Often the form of the art project is a mural, in which the participants decide on the theme and storyline. These collaborative, community-based art projects engage children, youth, and adults to converse and to find a common thread of intention. Often this thread is rooted in shared historical memory; it emerges from personal and communal stories, from people's expectations, fears, and tenacity to continue living despite the carnage, losses, and displacement they have suffered.

About the Author

Claudia Bernardi is an installation artist, painter, and printmaker whose artwork is impacted by war and post war periods. Born in Argentina, Bernardi was affected by the military junta (1976-1983) that caused 30,000 desaparecidos (disappeared). In 2005, Bernardi founded Walls of Hope in a war zone in El Salvador, a community-based art, education, and human rights project that has been replicated in many countries around the world. Bernardi designs and facilitates collaborative art projects with survivors of political violence, survivors of torture, survivors of sexual violence, and with communities forced into exile. Bernardi is emerita professor at the California College of the Arts.