Mark London,England

As you know, here at Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) we do lots of RJ trainings and educational presentations, and we’re also helping partners implement pilot programs in the schools and justice system. Consciously incorporating much more art and culture into our trainings, presentations, and circles could give us a huge boost. There is something about the power of this work that simply cannot always adequately be expressed through speaking alone. Even before coming upon the blog entry, I know I have at times while doing trainings or making presentations personally felt the need to overcome barriers to communciation- or just to convey meaning with greater power – by breaking out in song or dance. The thought of exploring this renews my committment to this work.

I look forward to hearing more about how the ABR course is progressing later in the semester.

I’m honored to be joined in leading it by videographer Paulette Moore. (See )

Candee, thanks for sharing this work. I’ll look forward to hearing more.
Howard

I too am “convinced of the importance of visual as well as verbal ways of knowing and communicating.” I began experimenting with fabric and watercolor “collages” to research and communicate the patterns of my life experiences. And now, I’m experimenting with the same concepts in the course I teach at a small community college. It has been a awakening experience.

Here’s an example of students reflecting visually on meaning.

First, we talked around a table using the stone game. Then, I invited them to find metaphors, images, things that spoke of their experience on a table filled with fabric, foil, magazine cutouts, string, etc. etc. They went to work immediately – no hesitation. A week later – poetry and journal writings spilled out.

I’ve not read Leavy’s book but I just ordered it. I long to have more conversations about the power and possibility of arts-based research and reflection.

I recently became involved with Missouri Murder Victims Families for Healing. I am a retired pharmaceutical industry executive, and wrote a book titled She Had No Enemies, about my sister’s death by a serial killer and how I turned that tragedy into a positive force in my life. I’ve made a few student and grant-funded films. I volunteered to be on the media subcommittee for the MMVFH. I recently ran into a filmmaker with good credentials as an assistant director in Hollywood. He has made documentaries in the past. I became interested in making a documentary on the effects of murder on surviving families, how groups of victims families meet to heal and work with offenders to help them heal. I contacted Beth Wood with MMFR.org and she recommended I contact you as a starting point for my documentary. If you can help me, I will appreciate it. If you can’t personally, and can recommend someone to talk to, again, thanks.

BTW, I watched the new Blu-ray version of Last Year at Marienbad and some of your work reminded me of that 1961 masterpiece of surrealism. Your photography truly attains the level of high art.

Dennis