Art and Upheaval: Artists on the World's Frontlines

This book documents the experiences of artists in 6 parts of the world who are working to rebuild peace and the culture of their communities following major social trauma. In Australia, Cambodia, Northern Ireland, South Africa, the United States (Watts, Los Angeles, California), and Serbia/Bosnia, these cultural workers have used their art to respond to civil wars, dictatorship, and other political oppression specific to their locations and situations. They have generated new technologies for advocacy, organising, peacemaking, healing trauma, rebuilding community, and giving voice to the forgotten and disappeared.

Featured artists include the Watts Prophets of Los Angeles, California; DAH Teatar, a theatre group of the former Yugoslavia; Trevor Jamison, Australian Aboriginal storyteller, writer and actor; Walter Kefu Chakela, South African playwright; Kim Berman, facilitator and print-maker; Ly Daravuth, Cambodian facilitator and artist; and numerous artists involved in the Community Arts Forum in Belfast. All these artists play the role of activist in addition to art-maker, and the book tells the story of the challenges they faced as a result of remaining committed to their projects, their art, and their communities.

Author William Cleveland spent 8 years documenting the communities profiled in this book and provides direct expressions of the artists through visuals, poetry, and theatre, as well as contextual histories. Art and Upheaval may be of interest to artists, academics, educators, human service providers, philanthropists, and community leaders throughout the world.