Witness for Peace Southeast

We are fundraising to cover the expenses of producing and maintaining “The Faces of Colombia – The Invisible Communities” Traveling Art Exhibition. In partnership with the non-profit organization Witness for Peace Southeast we hope to actively circulate the exhibition throughout the United States.

The exhibition aims to raise awareness about the struggles for fundamental human rights and social justice.

Funds Will:

• Ensure that the exhibit is free to the public
• Cover shipping and insurance for the paintings
• Cover personal/speaker travel expenses for each exhibit
• Cover printing and production of informational materials accompanying each exhibit

**All donations are tax deductible
 
This exhibit includes 20 original colored pencil paintings of activists, children and communities throughout Colombia. Each painting also includes informative narratives about the current situation in Colombia, the role of US policies, and how Colombian activists are organizing for change. These portraits illuminate these resident's hardships and highlight their dignity in the face of oppression.

This exhibit is a first step toward a larger exhibit that will use art to demonstrate the parallels between exploitative economic and social policies in both Colombia and the US and how activists across borders are working for changes.

Thank you so much for your support. If you are not able to donate, please help get the word out by sharing this campaign on social media!

 Exhibit Schedule: Interested in hosting the exhibition – please contact us (comment below)!

October 23, 2018 – November 16, 2018
Vanderbilt University - Kissam Center
101 21st Ave. S.
Nashville, TN 37240

April 5, 2019 – April 30, 2019
Sawtooth School for Visual Art
251 N. Spruce Street
Winston-Salem, NC

July 12, 2019 – July 30, 2019
Craven Arts Council
317 Middle Street
New Bern, NC

May 3, 2019 – June 1, 2019
Caldwell Arts Center/Caldwell Arts Council
601 College Ave
Lenoir, NC

August 26, 2019 – October 21, 2019
Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Ave.
Charlotte, NC

Back Story:
In July 2017, as part of a delegation with the non-profit Witness for Peace, Donna Slade visited Colombia, South America. After witnessing personal and revealing accounts of the suffering and local peace building efforts Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities face as a result of exploitative Colombian and US governmental policies she returned to the US and began working on an art exhibit that would help bring the stories of Colombian communities to the US.

Utilizing the medium of colored pencil, artist Donna Slade has created a series of realistic paintings depicting the struggles facing impoverished Colombians living in rural communities. These portraits illuminate these citizens’ hardships and highlight their own dignity in the face of oppression. Through these images Slade hopes that others will become even more enlightened about the role of US policies in maintaining systems of exploitation, the struggles facing people within these invisible communities, and show solidarity with their peace movements.

Economic, social and cultural rights include ensuring the right to education, housing, adequate standard of living, health and protection from infringement by the government, social organizations and private individuals. However, these rights are often only given to lighter skinned, middle to upper middle class individuals who can pay for access to services and goods. As such, the struggle for the equal distribution of rights continues in both Colombia and the United States.

This exhibit is a starting point for exploring how global economic policies that value wealth over human lives has similar ramifications in the lives of US and Colombian residents. This exhibit will underscore how the struggle for change in Colombia is similar to the struggle for change by other marginalized groups in the United States as well as many other countries.

To learn more about the role of US policies in Colombia check out this blog post: 

http://www.wfpse.org/americans-created-border-crisis/

Thank you so much for your interest and your support!!!