Community-based Art and Community Formation: A Case Study in West Oakland

Pablo Cerdera, Oberlin College

Location

Science Center, A142

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-24-2015 4:00 PM

End Date

4-24-2015 5:30 PM

Abstract

Community-based art has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. This practice claims to be rooted in dialog and collaboration with a community, but community itself is not a fixed idea. Using the West Oakland-based project “Reflections of Healing” as a case study, my research seeks to address, first, how community-based art forms a notion of community and, second, the social and political ramifications of this formation. This study of “Reflections of Healing”—which has deep roots in local history and politics—offers insights into the strengths and weaknesses of community-based art as a tool for social and political organizing.

Notes

Session 3, Panel 20 - Crafting Community: Studies of Art and Intervention
Moderator: Wendy Kozol, Professor of Comparative American Studies

Full text thesis available here.

Major

Comparative American Studies

Advisor(s)

Pablo Mitchell, Comparative American Studies

Project Mentor(s)

Wendy Kozol, Comparative American Studies

April 2015

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Apr 24th, 4:00 PM Apr 24th, 5:30 PM

Community-based Art and Community Formation: A Case Study in West Oakland

Science Center, A142

Community-based art has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. This practice claims to be rooted in dialog and collaboration with a community, but community itself is not a fixed idea. Using the West Oakland-based project “Reflections of Healing” as a case study, my research seeks to address, first, how community-based art forms a notion of community and, second, the social and political ramifications of this formation. This study of “Reflections of Healing”—which has deep roots in local history and politics—offers insights into the strengths and weaknesses of community-based art as a tool for social and political organizing.