“an authentic public space, that is one in which diverse human beings can appear before one another…Such a space requires the provision of opportunities for the articulation of multiple perspectives in multiple idioms, out of which something common can be brought into being”
-Maxine Green
One of my jobs at GYPS was to coordinate decoration of the spaces, both the large meeting halls where we were together as a big group, and also the cabins that the youth sleep in at night. Much attention is paid to this activity. Tapestries are hung, images and symbols from different religions are placed- everything from statues of Ganesha to posters of Bob Marley are displayed. Altars are created, as well as an art tent and a music space. Pillows and blankets are spread around to invite many places for comfortably stopping and having a conversation, a connection. Having the idea of the public home places alive in my mind made it a different experience for me to participate in this process of decorating with new interest.
I did my best to create spaces that invited feelings of comfort, safety and support so that all that wants to be shared can be. I imbued my decorating work with a sense of love and was deeply touched by how different it felt to understand this work as having a powerful and political significance.
From this I think about the youth coming from so many different countries and cultures, some of them with translators provided by Amala for the event- and the way all the youth are are encouraged to speak in their own languages, be it a language other than English, or the language of rap music, or guitar or drumming or dance. It is the expression of so many different elements of humanity that begins to weave a web in which we can understand our commonality.
Creating a Global Village To Explore Issues of Race and Displacement 