Using Art as Advocacy: Providing Healing, Building Community, Inspiring Social Change.

Using art as advocacy in times of chaos can build community, inspire social change, and provide healing for those impacted. Art can result in profound political progress when used as a tool by those who live or work outside the political space. This webinar will explore how art can be used as advocacy for climate justice. Guest artists will share their work and how they have joined the conversation and inspired others to get involved.

Panelists

Marissa Gutierrez-Vicario

Marissa Gutierrez-Vicario is the Founder and Executive Director of Art and Resistance Through Education (ARTE). As a committed human rights and peace-building activist, artist, educator, and advocate for youth, Marissa launched ARTE in 2013 to help young people amplify their voices and organize for human rights change in their communities through the visual arts. Marissa currently serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the City College of New York in the Art Education department and is an Artist-in-Residence at the Initiative for a Just Society at Columbia University. Marissa also serves on the Global Fund for Women’s Artist Changemaker Advisory Council. In spring 2021, Marissa served as the Soros Visiting Practitioner Chair at the School of Public Policy at Central European University in Vienna, Austria. Marissa holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations, from the University of Southern California, an M.P.A. from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University, and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Art Education.

Argie Agelarakis

Argie Moutafis-Agelarakis, (M.A.) is a scientific/archaeological illustrator and painter. She earned her B.F.A. at The School of Visual Arts and her M.A. at Adelphi University. Drawing from her experience in archaeology, anthropology, and art, she has developed courses in technical drawing in archaeology and forensics, scientific illustration, food-culture-and art, ethnobotany, the benefits of art programs within the criminal justice system and classes that explore the relationship of art and science. She currently teaches at Adelphi University and the School of Visual Arts and is a co-producer of Artivism: The Power of Art for Social Transformation. As a board member at The Center for the Women of New York (CWNY), board member at The Hellenic Women’s Alliance, and collaborator with Felicia’s Promise, she hopes to inspire change for a more just and humane society, creating programs and network opportunities for her students and members of the community.

Carolina Cambronero Varela

Carolina Cambronero Varela, (M.A.) is engaged in community endeavors that promote a better environment and future through the arts and peace education. She believes these are human rights that will guide all, primarily children, to a deeper understanding of the power of transformation that each person has within. Carolina envisions the creation of these opportunities as integral components for a dignified life (please refer to The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, 1966). While at Columbia University, Carolina was president of Student Advocates for the Arts, co-chair of the Peace Education Network, and program representative in the Arts and Humanities Department Student Council. She also became a member of Kappa Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Global Citizens Club, and Columbia’s University Life Events Council. Currently, Carolina co-produces the initiative Artivism: The Power of Art for Social Transformation, an ongoing, multimodal collaboration sponsored by Sing for Hope, Adelphi University and Gottesman Libraries, Teachers College, Columbia University. Artivism aims to generate community through multi-disciplinary teamwork for a more dignified and meaningful coexistence, however you define these terms. The initiative aims to nurture confidence in taking continuous action from wherever you are by means of reciprocity.