“Often at-risk youth are robbed from their innocence without them knowing. I think art is a way in which we can bear witness to what they have gone through” -Eddie Bocanegra (above, with one of his students)
Eddie Bocanegra, one of three violence interrupters with CeaseFire Chicago featured in 2011’s The Interrupters, has worked tirelessly to curb the violence on the city’s streets and provide alternatives to at-risk youth. In addition to his work as a violence interrupter, he’s worked as an educator and an advocate for ex-offenders, all while earning a bachelors in social work from Northern Illinois University.
This summer he’s collaborated with the National Museum of Mexican Art to put together “Stop the Violence with Art”, a program designed to give young people whose lives have been affected by violence a creative outlet to express their feelings.
The exhibit opens tomorrow (July 6th) with a screening of The Interrupters followed by a conversation with Eddie Bocanegra and the young artists featured.
We hear everyday about the lives lost to street violence; come by tomorrow to support some of the people working hard to make a change.
See more of Eddie’s students’ work at Hancock Highschool Art Expo
“Machine Breaks Down, People Rise Up” by Teresa Veramendi directed by Amy Buckler , OCRAC members.
Occupy Chicago, Peoples Summit
artwork and some occupiers
Occupy Chicago, Peoples Summit
Occupy artwork
Robert Sebanc’s painting “Rahm with a Gun”, part of a series, in the Peoples Summit Gallery curated by the Rebel Arts Collective. “POTUS with a gun” is hanging next to this painting.
@chicagosmayor looks like he doesnt play when comes to the money man. #art #PeoplesSummit (Taken with instagram)
This is by Larry Chait, a photographer in Chicago who has done two recent projects related to OWS. At our last meeting he brought in a small version of this, as well as detail shots. We’re really excited about this combination of art and information, and we hope it will inspire you too!
From Larry’s website:
“I created this image in support of the We Are the 99%/Occupy Wall Street movement. The image consists of 1225 photos taken from the wearethe99percent.tumblr.com site, where people show themselves holding signs telling their stories and expressing their feelings about the sorry state of affairs for the vast majority of the citizens of this country. The images are arranged in a 35 x 35 grid. I lightened or darkened each square of the grid to form the QR code for the website. The image thus functions as a QR code, scanable by smart phones, while still retaining a “human” face. Many of the faces and some of the written signs remain visible and readable. The full-res image is 21,000 pixels square, and at billboard resolution (say, 30 pixels/inch) could be presented as large as 60 feet square. My plan is to make the image available to whomever can use it in support of the movement.”
Source: larrychait.com
Rehearse the Revolution: Theatre of the Oppressed with Occupy Chicago!
Do you ever feel oppressed by this world, and want to fight it? Gather with us in a open space of dialogue and action to brainstorm how to fight the oppression in the world. We will use interactive theatre to externalize the problem and brainstorm solutions. Augusto Boal created Theatre of the Oppressed and utilized these forums internationally as a “Rehearsal for Revolution.” With these complex systems of oppression that our society has created, we need to find ways to think beyond the individual and breach the structures that keep the oppressed down. Augusto Boal teaches us that everyone is oppressed in some way — and that there are both external and internal forms of oppression. The goal of his creation, Theatre of the Oppressed, is to provide an alternative vein of communication to achieve understanding: physical action. As the most essential human language, Theatre must be used to better our community through understanding, and stepping into each other’s shoes. The more workshops you attend, the better we all will have invested in this community, and in our movement. We, fellow occupiers and practitioners of this practice, bring it to you to help us all build a more cohesive vision that includes everyone’s voices, and oppresses no one.
Workshops will be held on the following Sundays at Occupy Chicago’s new home, 500 W Cermak, Room 700.
Feb 12th 3pm-5pm
Feb 19th 3pm-5pm
Feb 26th 3pm-5pm
One final interactive performance by our group of actor-occupiers, who have been training in this practice for two months, will provide common scenes of oppression from our society as fodder for communal discussion (and dramatic practice) for what solutions and tactics can best be employed to aid the oppressed. Consider this an alternative GA format.
March 11th 7pm-9pm
Again, the more the merrier! Bring your friends! All are welcome to participate and be heard.
