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In this episode of 'Art Heals All Wounds', I explore the transformative power of art with playwright and activist Catherine Filloux, focusing on her work that highlights human rights and the stories of survivors. Catherine discusses her upcoming one-woman play, 'How to Eat an Orange', inspired by the life of artist and activist Claudia Bernardi and her experiences during the military junta rule in Argentina. The episode delves into the themes of storytelling, the importance of remembering as a revolutionary act, and how art can serve as a map towards healing and human rights advocacy. Catherine also touches on her other upcoming project, an off-Broadway musical titled 'Welcome to the Big Dipper'. The discussion emphasizes the role of art in addressing trauma, fostering connection, and promoting social change. 00:00 Welcome to Art Heals All Wounds01:04 The Power of Art in Human Rights: Catherine Filloux's Journey01:40 Claudia Bernardi: Art, Activism, and the Dirty War02:19 Behind the Scenes of 'How to Eat an Orange'03:02 Supporting the Show and Engaging with the Community03:16 Catherine Filloux: A Deep Dive into Her Work and Inspirations08:16 Exploring Time, Memory, and Art in 'How to Eat an Orange'11:01 The Intersection of Art and Forensic Anthropology13:33 The Genesis of 'How to Eat an Orange': A Story of Chance and Destiny21:12 Remembering as a Revolutionary Act: The Importance of Survivor Stories27:39 Looking Forward: Catherine's Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts28:59 Closing Remarks and How to Support the ShowDon't forget to go to my website and leave me YOUR story of belonging to feature on a future episode!Buy Me a Coffee!Buy Tickets to 'How to Eat an Orange'Follow Catherine FillouxFollow Claudia BernardiFollow Me!● My Instagram ● My LinkedIn● Art Heals All Wounds Website● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook
Today, I'm joined by award-winning artist, playwright, and librettist Catherine Filloux to discuss how she explores the intersection of social justice and theater in her work. In our conversation, Catherine expands on the stories that have captured her heart and informed her career, including the survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia and the Dirty War in Argentina. Where Elephants Weep is a rock opera that follows the love story of two Cambodian-Americans who return to their homeland. Catherine outlines the expansive research that she and composer Him Sophy did to bring this story to life and explains why she's dedicated to exploring the generational impact of the Khmer Rouge regime. Because the play was banned after it was broadcast for the first time on Cambodian national television, Catherine and Him Sophy are updating and relaunching it next year. Catherine's also working on a one-woman play about the extraordinary life of visual artist and activist Claudia Bernardi. Catherine gives an overview of what we can expect from How to Eat an Orange and why she was inspired to pursue this story. We also discuss the potency of storytelling in the theater, especially as we've been driven towards screens and experiencing art alone. Catherine leaves us with an inspiring message about her passion for honoring survivors' stories and highlights why it's revolutionary to remember.Listen, rate, and review to Art Heals All Wounds on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or on your favorite podcast platform.Topics Covered:● Catherine's early introduction to theater and what sparked her interest in playwriting ● An honest look at the United States' complicity in international conflict ● Why Where Elephants Weep was banned in Cambodia ● The deep impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on Cambodian arts and tradition ● Using the theater as a setting to honor the victims and survivors of human rights violations Guest Info:● Catherine's Website ● Catch Where Elephants Weep on Broadway on Demand through April 22, 2023 ● Stay updated about the premiere of How to Eat an Orange at La MaMa Follow Me:● My LinkedIn● Art Heals All Wounds Website● Art Heals All Wounds Instagram● Art Heals All Wounds Facebook● Art Heals All Wounds Newsletter
Singer/songwriter Laura Stevenson spoke to me about a cultural spark that is really remarkable. I don't think that any other topic that I've discussed on this show has affected me as much as this one. Laura's spark is Pasa Un Angel, a mixed media monotype fresco by fine artist and activist Claudia Bernardi, but we talked about Bernardi's entire body of work. She has lived an absolutely incredible life and survived through and witnessed unimaginable trauma. This conversation is going to be a source of inspiration for you, but it also features discussion of some incredibly upsetting and horrifying human rights abuses that are the driving force behind Bernardi's work. It's a moving and, for me, truly life changing discussion. You'll finish this episode wanting to know much more about Claudia Bernardi's work and you'll also be really excited to listen to Laura's music. Laura's fantastic self-titled album will be released on August 6th. Links:Pasa Un AngelLaura Stevenson24 Hours
Spontaneous Vegetation airs on second and fourth Sundays on Lumpen Radio, 5-6pm. Claudia Bernardi, installation artist and printmaker whose artwork is impacted by war and the post war period. Born in Argentina, Bernardi was affected by the military junta (1976-1983) that caused 30,000 “desaparecidos”. Bernardi participated with the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team exhuming mass graves in investigations of human rights violations. In 2005 Bernardi created the School of Art and Open Studio of Perquin, El Salvador, a community-based art project where children, youth and adults work collaboratively. Bernardi is a Professor at the California College of the Arts where she designs classes on art and human rights in Latin America.
Miranda Aisling found her passion at a very young age. She went to college at the age of 14, and by her junior year of college, two things gave her a clear direction in life. The first was deciding to open up an art center. The second was a trip to El Salvador that changed her life. In this episode, learn about her work as an artist, community builder, and creator of Miranda’s Hearth, the first Community Art Hotel. Here are three things you can learn from Miranda: The beauty of experimentation One of the things artists need to embrace more is the idea of experimentation. When we look up at the paintings hanging in gallery walls, we ask ourselves how someone was able to create that. What many of us don’t see is all the effort it took to get there. Every artist goes through phases of exploration and experimentation. We start off trying to mimic our heroes. What we soon discover is, we can’t recreate a piece of art, no matter how hard we try. So we must experiment for ourselves. Miranda believes the artists who came before can teach us the lessons they learned through experimentation. She believes after learning from the masters, we must experiment for ourselves. “I think how you find out what works is through experimentation.” She also believes that, after experimenting and trying to mimic other people’s work, you discover yourself. “You can try and make something perfect and you can mimic it perfectly, but it’s actually in the way you can’t make it the same that you find your own voice.” The beauty of art is, you can both learn from others and from experimentation. It is when those two worlds collide that we find what really works for us. Curiosity’s role in creativity Miranda believes curiosity lies at the center of creativity. “Curiosity really is the root of creativity. Artists are the people that sit there and they ask, and they try to express what they find whether they can or not. Through expression they try to find the answers.” She believes it is something that is missing from our education system. We don’t allow people to explore their curiosity. Instead we try to force people to memorize facts. “By playing to a test, we beat out curiosity, because we say, there is an answer. This is the right answer. This is what it is and if you tell me it back, you’ll be correct, and you’ll pass, and you’ll move on. But manifesting curiosity is actually really humbling.” Instead of relying on people to give us the answers, we need to discover them for ourselves. We need to develop our own humble curiosity. We need to ask what if. We need to find our own expression. When we do, we will have found our connection to creativity. The importance of art While on her trip to El Salvador, Miranda discovered the importance of art. Her trip visiting a war torn town changed her entire perspective of what art could be. She saw the way it could bring people together after experiencing such tragedy. The town was the site of a horrific massacre that left only one survivor. So along with Claudia Bernardi and Walls of Hope, they painted a mural with people who came back to the town. This trip is the reason Miranda does what she does and doesn’t stray off the path. “It was at that moment that I realized how vital art is, that it’s not just million dollar pieces hanging on a museum wall behind a piece of glass. That, cliché as it sounds, it literally builds communities. It brings people back together. It brings meaning to life. And that was the moment when I realized that I didn’t want to dedicate my life to pursuing some gallery position selling artwork to the 1%. I wanted to help rebuild. I wanted to help create connection and I saw art as the vehicle. For me art has always been a vehicle. It is not a purpose in and of itself… for me art is the means, and human connection and finding meaning through life, that’s the purpose. That’s what art helps us do.” More shownotes from episode 51 with Mirana Aising
On tonight's episode of La Raza Chronicles/Cronicas de la Raza we feature an interview with Diogo A. Rodriguez, a Brazilian journalist, about the push to impeach Brazil's president; Claudia Bernardi with the Walls of hope Perquin a project that has worked with communities everywhere from El Salvador, where it was founded, to Argentina and to immigrant detention centers in the United States to create murals documenting their stories of state violence and crisis; and an interview with Elsa from Elsa y Elmar and an update on upcoming shows with LabohemiaSf Secondpage productions. On KPFA Radio 94.1FM 7-8PM or online on KPFA.org.
Claudia Bernardi, artist, printmaker and human rights activist presents samples of her work and has a conversation with award winning journalist and author, Mark Danner as part of Anna Deavere Smith's colloquium on borders, Bodies on the Line.
Claudia Bernardi, artist, printmaker and human rights activist presents samples of her work and has a conversation with award winning journalist and author, Mark Danner as part of Anna Deavere Smith's colloquium on borders, Bodies on the Line.
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