Human Rights Arts Project in Chile by Namaya, Zoe Kopp, & B 4 Peace Team
The Vermont based artist and poet Namaya,and Zoe Kopp the Program Director for B4 Peace presented a multimedia performance art project at Villa Grimaldi a Peace Park in Santiago Chile from December 21 through the January 21, 2014t. “MEMORIA. HABLAR.DIGNIDAD. 40,” to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the coup d’etat on September 11, 1973 that lead to eighteen years of a brutal dictatorship. After the coup d’etat of the elected government of Salvador Allende, Villa Grimaldi was transformed into a prison where thousands were tortured and two hundred and thirty six people were killed. Villa Grimaldi has now been transformed into an international peace park The newly elected president of Chile, Christine Bachelet, was imprisoned here at Villa Grimaldi as a child, and her father General Bachelet, who opposed Pinochet, was tortured and killed.
MEMORIA HABLAR DIGNIDAD 40 included dance performances with the Mapuche dance company Fraternidad Allyu and TarDanza . The art, dance, poetry, and performance was used to celebrate this Peace Park. Photos and videos of this performance. http://namayaproductions.com/memoria-hablar-dignidad/
Namaya explained , “Memoria is to recall the events of the past. Hablar is to speak to this pain and loss caused by the dictatorship. Dignidad – Asks how do we create a future of human rights for all. In writing and creating the performance in conjunction with our Mapuche/Chilean dancers, Fraternidad Allyu, we wove the myth of creation into the performance. The poem “Wind Howling in the Night,” by Namaya is based on a Chilean girl’s story of living next to a torture center and was transformed into a dance piece by the dance company TarDanza. Through the music of Victor Jara, the dance and story, and the poetry of Neruda the event was healing and transformational for many. ” One person described it, “It was psycho-magical.” At the end of the performance, the audience walked to the sculpture Tower of Chilean Heroes of Human Rights, a tower over twelve feet tall, with large portraits of heroes of Chilean human rights, joined hands and sang together Gracias a La vida, “Give Thanks to Life.” The director of programs Monserrat said, “This was on the most moving and memorable events we have had at Villa Grimaldi.
“The tower was surrounded by 100 banners of the the poem 100 Flowers for
Peace translated into in 100 languages remained on display for a month. International visitors were pleased to see this poem in their language.
Namaya said, “It is vital for people to remember the origins of this coup d’etat. The US government, by the direction of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, upon the election of Salvador Allende, said, “We will make
this economy scream.” The US government for the next three years did everything in its power to destroy the Chilean economy and society, and even handpicked the leaders of the coup. This is well documented in the book The Pinochet Files by Peter Kornbluh.
“GRACE Cares is proud to sponsor the Memoria. Hablar.Dignidad.40. show in Chile where so many struggled to bring democracy back to their country. In addition, the Grace Cares component is a grassroots community development group that supports sustainable development projects in Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and India.” says Zoe Kopp, President of the Vermont based international non-profit whose mission is to “support local heroes around the world.” The B4 Peace Project uses the beauty, vitality and healing power of art to engage people to reflect on human rights.
Namaya said, “At Villa Grimaldi we had the opportunity to meet with people whose families were tortured and killed. We met a woman whose parents were killed here and she was taken out of Chile as an infant. She returns ever year with her children to tell the story of her parents who were killed here.
In presenting and producing this project we hope to help in this on going healing and reconciliation in Chilean society. Each one us,in whatever large or small way can act meaningful and well to be heroes of human rights.””
Memoria. Hablar. Dignidad and the art work is part of the broader body of work called the Pornography of War – which is a multi-year, global arts and performance projects that look at the impact of war and militarism in society. These projects can be viewed at http://www.b4peace.net.
Namaya is a veteran and peace activist. He is a poet, multimedia artist, and playwright, who has presented performances and peace arts projects around the world to engage the public to reflect on the impact of war and militarism in society, and to create peace.
In 2014, the B4 Peace team will create Peace Arts Projects at World Learning in Brattleboro, Vermont, at Pete Seeger’sClearwater Festival in NY with the NYC Peace Museum, and return to South America for additional human rights arts projects in Chile and Argentina. If you are interested in volunteering to create peace arts and community projects please contact b4peace@namayaproductions.com.
Thank you to the many Chileans who shared their stories and their journey of courage. We were humbled and privileged to be part of this experience
