TOGETHER: DREAMING of PASTS AND FUTURES
A Partnership between MAMC and The Koffler Center for the Arts

 The Koffler Centre For The Arts exhibit:  “The Synagogue at Babyn Yar: Turning the Nightmare of Evil into a Shared Dream of Good”  was the catalyst for the artwork created in this project   Participants were given a package of art materials, carefully selected by MAMC. A palette of sepia tonalities was specifically chosen because it related to the architect Manuel Herz’s initial ideas for the interior decoration of the Synagogue at Babyn Yar. The two wooden boards, walnut ink, charcoal, lithographic crayon, sepia contè, and corrugated cardboard were invitations to creative possibilities. The potential of the materials invited participants to a process of self-discovery and exploration. MAMC’s facilitators guided the participants and drew out the stories that emerged.  
Over one month, participants gathered once a week to discuss concepts of othering, palimpsest, current events, and personal histories as they developed their visual vocabulary. MAMC facilitators were able to foster an environment where each artist expressed a wide range of emotions and complicated feelings; from sadness to outrage to gratitude and love. The final product is the outcome of 5 weeks of collaboration, respectful discussion, and reflective practice among participants; a group of strangers became intimately connected.  Each participant developed a fully realized work citing their own multi-layered personal experiences. 
The project illustrates the power of art as a restorative process- a receptacle for fear, a mechanism for good and a catalyst for change. 

WORK & PROCESS

Making Art Making Change is a non-profit charity committed to giving voice to individuals in a group setting within communities through the use of visual arts.

Our experienced artist educators are committed to creating a safe space and engaging projects where participants can explore artistic expression while developing self-awareness, collaboration skills and original creative thinking. Our focus is to facilitate dialogue and collaboration, thereby strengthening community bonds and reducing isolation.

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