Barato: A North American Community Project
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For three days in March, 2005, I had the pleasure of working with people from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. at a conference organized by The University of Memphis' Center for Research on Women and the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change. Titled Trading Justice: NAFTA's New Links and Conflicts, this unique conference critically examined the effects of NAFTA and ended with a commitment to create new links between people and institutes that have important work to share on NAFTA and other North American issues.
During my time at the conference I solicited drawings and stories from the participants, most Phds, policy makers, and researchers. I also listened to presentations and read several papers. Below are some of the participants' donated drawings and the resulting work I created. At the conclusion of the conference, I shared the final work and led a short discussion on its content.
During the three days of the conference, I worked on the drawing out in the lobby while taking time to talk to participants during the breaks, meals, and "fieldtrip" to the STAX Museum of American Soul Music- a fun evening of lively talk, great music and a wonderfully designed museum complete with Isaac Haye's "blinged out" rotating gold- trimmed, green 1972 Cadillac. (Follow the above link to see the car and their great web site.)
With Charcoal stained hands, I returned home with a love for Memphis, a much clearer understanding of the BIG picture, and a giant respect for the work of Dr. Barbara Smith and the others at CROW and the University of Memphis.
Enjoy a few of the participants' donated doodles and ...
... the final work:
Barato (Cheap), 78" x 72", Charcoal and Gesso
on Canvas,
2005, Todd Drake et al