Friday, May 16, 2014

Healing art for a wounded Perquin

By: Nancy Sabas

Local women showing their weaving project ¨Women in the bible¨

The department of Morazán in the Northeast side of El Salvador hides in it a small and picturesque town: Perquin. It is certainly a vivid and colorful ¨pueblito¨ surrounded by stunning mountains that would make any new visitor wonder how such a lovely place could have ever been called the ¨guerrilla capital¨ during the time of conflict in the 1980´s and been drug into a turbulent past of war, death and displacements.

The Ecclesial Based Communities of El Salvador (CEBES) - an MCC partner in Perquin, puts strong efforts in Historical memory projects that seek to raise awareness of this rough past as to not allow events like these to happen again. CEBES is also involved in women´s bible studies focused on gender equality, trauma healing and community development, among other areas.

CEBES has succeeded in finding a link that builds a relationship between their historical memory and their trauma healing efforts: Music and Arts.

Students from the Rosthern Junior Collegiate have been able to visit CEBES for two years consecutively through their program ALSO and MCC´s Connecting Peoples. In both of these occasions, a lively dinner-concert welcomed them. The band ¨Tiempos de cambio¨ and the Perquin Parish choir were able to transmit through music the vibrant and powerful spirit of a resilient community that had to face atrocities and injustices, and advocates untiringly up to this day. The visitor group from RJC also perfomed some special songs to sing to the community and to show their gratitude and respect. Last year, RJC raised funds to support the purchasing of a conga drum set for the community.

In 2013, participants of the Perquin parish choir and the band, collaborated in recording the MCC Alberta CD, Even in the Smallest Places that seeks to raise funds to support people living with HIV/AIDS, children orphaned by the disease, teaching prevention and addressing the poverty and injustices that perpetuate the spread of the disease. The CD, released in October 2013, features a song written by Daisy from CEBES, which is a call to show love and acceptance to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Among the different projects that CEBES runs, weaving workshops are one of them. Local women are encouraged to reflect their feelings and thoughts in their weavings about the armed conflict, to keep the historical memory alive and their importance as women, as they are taught in their bible studies oriented to gender equality. This not only serve as a tool to develop their creativity and talents, but also represents a source of income by selling their embroidery art projects.

CEBES also was involved in mural painting projects to keep historical memory alive. The CEBES building is brightly decorated with murals that honor the lives of the martyrs who died during the civil war. ¨The last supper in Morazán¨ mural in CEBES recreates Jesus´ last supper in a Perquin´s rural setting and replaces the bible figures with local martyrs wearing their traditional peasant clothes. Some of the people portrayed in the mural are:
  *Archbishop of San Salvador, Monseñor Oscar Romero
  * The only survivor of the massacre at neighboring community El Mozote, Rufina Amaya
  * The martyred Bishop of Guatemala, Monseñor Gerardi
  * American civil rights martyr, Martin Luther King Jr.
· * Sister of Providence, Hermana Silvia Troncoso
· * Indigenous rebellion leader, Anastasio Aquino
· * San Salvador martyr, Father Octavio Ortiz,

Certainly, art has proved to be a healing balm and CEBES knows it.


¨Art has accomplished in Perquin what politics have never been able to.¨
-Carmen Elena Hernandez, CEBES´coordinator.

Carmen Elena Hernandez, CEBES´ coordinator explains the ¨Last Supper in Morazán¨ mural to the MCC Material Resources Learning tour group. Photo taken by Stanley Toews.


Sources:

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

christian louboutin outlet, prada handbags, air jordan pas cher, louis vuitton outlet, uggs on sale, nike free, chanel handbags, ugg boots, prada outlet, longchamp outlet, replica watches, nike air max, ugg boots, tory burch outlet, longchamp, louboutin pas cher, tiffany jewelry, ralph lauren pas cher, gucci outlet, air max, louis vuitton outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, nike air max, nike outlet, louis vuitton, longchamp outlet, jordan shoes, oakley sunglasses, burberry, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, replica watches, louboutin, longchamp pas cher, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, michael kors, tiffany and co, louboutin outlet, ray ban sunglasses, nike roshe run, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, kate spade outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, louboutin shoes, sac longchamp, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses

Anonymous said...

vans, mcm handbags, asics running shoes, ferragamo shoes, iphone cases, lululemon, timberland boots, longchamp, converse, mont blanc, abercrombie and fitch, gucci, chi flat iron, converse outlet, nike roshe, ralph lauren, oakley, soccer jerseys, north face outlet, p90x workout, baseball bats, nike air max, reebok shoes, nike trainers, bottega veneta, valentino shoes, birkin bag, instyler, beats by dre, herve leger, giuseppe zanotti, jimmy choo shoes, nike huarache, nike air max, soccer shoes, babyliss, nfl jerseys, hollister, louboutin, hollister, north face outlet, ghd, vans shoes, hollister, wedding dresses, celine handbags, mac cosmetics, new balance, insanity workout, ray ban

Anonymous said...

replica watches, canada goose outlet, doudoune canada goose, pandora charms, moncler, canada goose, marc jacobs, montre pas cher, links of london, louis vuitton, swarovski, ugg boots uk, toms shoes, thomas sabo, moncler, canada goose, louis vuitton, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, supra shoes, pandora charms, lancel, hollister, moncler, juicy couture outlet, bottes ugg, louis vuitton, coach outlet, canada goose uk, pandora jewelry, canada goose, moncler, karen millen, moncler outlet, wedding dresses, canada goose outlet, sac louis vuitton pas cher, barbour jackets, ugg pas cher, canada goose, barbour, moncler, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, swarovski crystal, moncler, juicy couture outlet, moncler, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry