"YOU COMIN' WSF"
How we got involved in the Social Forums?
We understand that the obligatory word "globalization", the code
name for neoconservative, one-sided, one-size-fits-all, economic solutions
to the world woes, is in denial of what precisely makes it what it is: its
diversity. We work for full acceptance of diversity. On those bases we use
community-based arts to experiment ways of collaborating across disciplines,
races and social classes. Very naturally we have been developing a deep interest
in the Social Forums. We want to guarantee the arts an important role in the
many Social Forums taking place around the World. From "Another South
is possible" (Durham - June 2006) and "Another world is possible"
(Nairobi- January 2007), to "Another US is possible" (Atlanta -
June 2007), we developed further two projects:
- One is a video work made of very short dialogues between folks who never
met before but are sharing the present experience of the Forum. Our team introduces
them to each other, creates those mini-events, briefs them on the purpose
of the film and centers the dialogue on two questions: Why are you here? What
do you want to bring back from here? At the US Social Forum the subject of
health was brought back by our partner the Healing, Health & Environmental
Team of the forum itself.
- The other is a textile project: an “endless” batik banner composed
of words and images by Forum participants. It is dyed in indigo and other
colors. You may see parts of them behind the various recorded conversations.
What do those conversations bring to us?
Understanding, ideas, more hope, all based on the experience of looking at
you, and you, and you, in the eye. An alternative to discourse, political
speech and dialectics to surpass national identity, religion, race and to
motivate others to do the same in their own communities.
Our video conversations are not a documentary of the Forums. We bring back
a visual understanding of how our actions and decisions can propel personal
voices and stories. We do believe in promoting personal voices without always
the interference of a middleman, a mediator, an interviewer or a newsman.
Our ways of introducing strangers together in front of a non-invading camera
is a tool maybe as powerful in some situations as a Story Circle. As a team
of artists and non-artists we wanted to be actors in the forums, not only
viewers and documenters. We feel a responsibility to make those conversations
accessible to their authors who may come from many countries and all walks
of life. We are also looking at how we are bringing home those conversations
with a world much wider than a family, much wider than a block, a neighborhood,
a school, a workplace, a city, the South or our country. We want them to be
meaningful by their content, the created impromptu – sometimes unimaginable
– social situation, their various colors and flavors.
Filmed by Amy Cook, Gwylene Gallimard, Arianne King Comer, Jean-Marie
Mauclet, Lasheia Oubre, Pamella Gibbs, Latonnya Wallace, of the CHARLESTON
RHIZOME COLLECTIVE OF ALTERNATE ROOTS with Rebekah Stone.
For more information, you can also visit these sites:
http://www.ussf.org
http://www.wsf2007.org
http://www.alternateroots.org
This project was partly funded by Alternate ROOTS, Artistic Assistance program
and the South Carolina Humanities Council.
Photos and design by Gwylene Gallimard. Website by Josh Staples.