Profile | Samantha Nasstrom

Art for Healing and Social Change in Nicaragua! I am a student from Occidental College, located in Los Angeles, California. I am conducting a ten week research project this summer in Nicaragua to study the use of art for healing and social change. My goal is to shine light on the artists and organizations providing Nicaraguan communities with the means for expression that all humans deserve. I hope that this research will show the benefit of providing people with artistic outlets to ignite hope and encourage the possibility for social change. I hope my research will fill a gap in the current body of information existing on the implementation of art as therapy and the usefulness of art in impoverished countries. In addition, I want to look at how participating in art can ignite ideas of social change, and how the content of works of art can communicate the need for that change and the change itself. I will be creating a mural with the children of Popoyo with content promoting education and peace. Although I am currently focussed on murals, I am also interested in poetry, theatre, music, and visual art helping the people of Nicaragua and promoting social change. Do you know of any such examples? Would you like to participate in my research project in the form of an interview or a visit when I get to Nicaragua? Let me know! 925-984-1503. Thank you!