Arts & International Affairs: Volume 2, Number 2 | Page 140

Communities demonstrated resilience in the year following the disaster and
returned to normal patterns in to their lives. Yet our challenge remains to
continue developing community-based partnerships as means of serving
audiences through creative experiences and critical thinking. Art should
open the spectrum of learning tools because it stimulates creativity and
innovation.
Now I understand how fertile this devastation was in terms of developing
new ways to connect with our audiences. Certainly a transformative
experience that allowed me to expand my notion of fortitude by reassuring
the importance of individual engagement.in times of chaos.
Art reminds us that it is impossible to permanently reside in our comfort
zones; it makes us aware of what surrounds us, causing us to forget the
narcissism of our contemporary world. Tragic events such as the April ����
earthquake can serve as a catalyst for the artistic community to join together
to provide an outlet for free expression—even in the face of despair. Through
art, we better serve each other.
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