Hope Rising Amidst US!
Engaging transformative process: Community Art Practice!
In the United States we are constantly confronted with the horrific reality of injustice measured out daily against many peoples. Racism, genocide, gender oppression, religious hatred and the pain of intersectionality - multiple layers of oppression, dismissal, disregard, denial of rights and even death are experienced by many in this country. Our systems of power wield their might over Indigenous people's, African American/Black peoples, Hispanic peoples and immigrants with the force to even maim, kill and destroy without impunity. Women suffer period, although how much is dictated by the layers of intersectionality of race, class, physical appearance, education, relational status and more. In Nepal, as Sadhana explains in the next paragraphs, systemic oppression is embedded in the Caste System.
The Caste system in Nepal is a deeply rooted form of social stratum. Historically, this way of dividing people was used to create a division of labor to support societal functioning. Each subgroup on the caste system strata was assigned according to a groups origins. Their were originally four categories: Brahmin were priests and teachers, Chhetriya were warriors who protected community and country, Vaisya were farmers and merchants, and the Sudra were the lowest caste group who were farm workers, laborers, carpenters, cobblers, tailors ect.
Like racism, the caste system objectifies portions of human beings and decreases their human worth and dignity. The Caste system empowers some people to overpower, mistreat, misuse and diminish others, without receiving consequences of any sort. Low caste
people are known as untouchables and suffer the most degradation of their humanity. They are not allowed to touch so called high
caste people or community wells and water taps. Low caste people are not allowed to enter into the temple or higher caste people’s houses. Lower caste people have separate places in school to
sit, far from higher caste people. People are strictly prohibited to have
inter-caste marriage. The caste system opens the way for suffering. The violations and suffering of lower caste people is increasing physically, socially and emotionally.
A total of 14 severe cases including attempted murder were reported to police in 2015 from different communities (source: Kuriti Book
2016- SOCH Nepal). There are many, many more unreported small cases in the community. Although the caste system has been legally abolished in the new constitution of Nepal, in the lived experiences of communities, the Caste system beliefs and practices remain strongly rooted. People are legally
secure but experientially unsafe in society, remaining forced by cultural mores to live as less than human. Lower caste people are still living as slaves, living with feelings of fear every day.
As Sadhana and I share in the work of Expressive Arts Therapy and Community Art Practice in Nepal, we find hope together that all inhumane treatment can find healing and oppressive systems can be broken down and abolished. Bringing people from diverse backgrounds and social strata into a common experience of art making, which is an ability intrinsic to all humanity, brings people into shared space, shared work, shared struggle and mutual encouragement to let expressions bubble up in our midst and become manifest as art! The art that is formed then speaks to the community, presenting people with new evidence of the human ability to form not only their expressions artfully, but relationships with themselves and one another differently, effectively, even beautifully, through the process.The work in Nepal, inspires my work in the US. On college campuses, in church communities with neighborhoods and high schools and at local farmers markets and gathering spots. I engage people in Community Art Practice as opportunity to share artful interactions of dignity in diverse community. I hope in and do now trust that through this practice, we too in the US will form community differently, for the sake of peace thriving in our midst.
While in Nepal in January, Sadhana and I will teach Community Art Practice to Nepali village leaders by their request. Some have already experienced a taste of this work and believe Community Art Practice to be part of the pathway forward of transforming lived experiences of all people into experiences of dignity. This work in Nepal will contribute to the effectiveness of the work I engage in here in the US upon my return.
May this work inspire a rising HOPE in everyone that peace within us, between us and amidst us will come... Beautifully!
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