Breathing Space

Abstract

This thesis will examine the balance between my studio and community practices in creating safe and nurturing spaces. I will describe the process by which I design and facilitate collaborative projects with community members in relation to the work I show in gallery settings. I will respond to the existing literature and practicing artists with whom I relate. Time will be devoted to the issues of social justice, community building, and empowerment. I will reveal my reasoning behind bringing symbols, patterns, and encoded images into the visual language of the groups I work with. Most importantly, I will explore the need to break down the hierarchies between tutored and untutored artists. Equality can be realized through creating spaces in which all people are on a level playing field, therefore, realizing that everyone has something valuable to offer.