Art and Disease

Jacqueline Firkins, at University of British Columbia is involved in an interdepartmental research project "Fashioning Cancer: The Correlation between Destruction and Beauty". She designed a series of dresses that use images of growing cancer cells as the base for her fabric design. The project culminated in an auction during which the dresses were sold to raise funds for cancer research.

This is another example of using the arts to raise awareness and shift perceptions.

The Web of Peace

The web that shows our connections to one another
(Kibera Slum, Nairobi Kenya 2013)

It is astonishing to me how when we share an experience, a techniques, a story, or ourselves with someone, it can have a ripple effect that spreads far and wide. Such is the nature of peace-building.

Recently I presented my research at the International Peace Research Conference in Istanbul - you can have a look at that on my last post. What I wrote for publication and how I present my research findings are so different. When presenting I get caught up in the experiences I have had and tend to omit the references and academic jargon that is so appropriate for academic paper.

While I was at the conference, to show how we are all connected I led an activity in which we created a web - different strands of coloured raffia, held by individuals who shared their narrative and found connections with one another.  I had used this method in Kenya, both as a means of intercultural communication and to build relationships and communities that had been severed because of conflict and violence. Although I personalized the technique, I was originally been inspired to use such a technique through the work of Jennifer Ball and Carolyn Webb.

Rebecca Rovitt, Associate Professor in Theatre at University of Kansas Lawrence complimented me by using this interactive tool during her first meeting with theatre students Script Analysis class.

Presenting my Research

I was so pleased to be invited to present my research at the International Peace Research Conference in Istanbul Turkey from 11 - 15th of August. The Arts and Peace Commission was chaired by Cynthia Cohen from the USA, Kiche Magak from Kenya and Maria Elisa Pinto Garcia from Colombia and brought together 36 presenters from around the globe with approximately 550 delegates form 94 countries. 

The Plenary talks by Prof. Johan Galtung and Kevin Clements were exemplary, providing attendees with a well-rounded view of the condition of peace globally. Clements spoke of “the need to shift from carnage to creation” and that the fall of global peacefulness is largely driven by internal peacefulness. He spoke of the countries that were the most peaceful as being the countries committed to gender equality and were inclusive in their democracies. I suppose that is not surprising, but it was important to have it commented upon.

The Arts and Peace stream of the conference, of which I was a part,  was inspiring. Thanks to support of Toda Institute and the enthusiastic and ever present Olivier Urbain, the offering was vast from academic presentations to practitioners’ experiences from every continent. In his presentation on his work in Kentucky, Gerard Stropnicky spoke of the values of “Agency, Authenticity, Audacity and Accuracy” that are imbedded in the theatre and peace work he does. The presentations by Dijana Milošević, Lee Perlman, Yair Dalal, Polly Walker (and more), echoed these values and reminded me that the work of arts and peace, no matter what the art form, crosses cultural and geographic divides.

Here Italian singer, actress Ilaria Tucci and American musician Rik Palieri perform together at the conference.

It was great to make new connections, to hear about exciting projects and research, and to spend a few days and evenings with like-minded people. What I realized was the field of peacebuilding, and in particular Arts and Peace, is expansive! The work and research that is being undertaken world-wide is inspiring and I cannot help but think that with every small step we will slowly infiltrate those who turn to violence and shift them toward peace.  There were three films screened that reflected this innovation and the discussions that followed gave attendees an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the innovation. As Kevin Clements said “violence is a failure of imagination”. This resonated with me and affirmed my belief that through the strategic use of the arts we can shift perception in times of conflict.

My paper is attached to this blog on a separate page titled Weaving A Web of Peace . . .