LAPD

Although I was expecting to hear more from the work LAPD has been doing with the members of Skid Row’s community, I was still excited to experience what they shared with us. The enjoyment, pride and respect with which they would show us their work, was noticeable. A good example for that was the filmmaker who presented the documentary on Romania. He confidently shared his story and his achievements and even challenged us as to whether or not we were artists ourselves. LAPD provided the space for these people, who have been shut down and oppressed by society in so many different ways, to speak up and find their space in the community having voice through art. And that’s my personal goal as an artist too: to be heard, to be able to change myself and others, to have an effect in the community I find myself in, to keep moving forward, to move people (physically and emotionally) and in my opinion that’s exactly what they have been doing. It allowed them to change their lives, come together and express themselves and if ART had that dramatic effect in their lives and in their sense of community, I wonder what it can or should be doing with mine.

Paula Rebelo