ShALaK aTtAcK

Shalak

2011-03-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

ColoUr is tHe uN-rulEd KinGdOm tHat spEaks wiTh cOnfidEnt SiNceRritY aNd cHalLeNgEs mUteD pOteNtial...

♥

Los ColOreS GueRreirAs-CalLejerAs coRreN pOr su sAnGre y gRitAn rAicEs eN cAda PaSo qUe vA toManDo pOr eSta sAgraDa tiErRa... Los MurOs nOs piDen eScuChaR... y CreAr Y crEar y cReAr....

For further information contact:

shalakattack@gmail.com

©
Copyright on all images, photos, and creations within this blog.

¤ ¤ ¤

Shalak Attack is an emerging Canadian-Chilean visual artist dedicated to painting murals, graffiti, canvas, as well as working with several mixed media approaches such as jewelery, illustration, installation, sound, video, and tattoo. In the past ten years, Shalak has participated in various artistic projects and exhibitions in Canada and Internationally.

Shalak shares her passion for freedom of expression, and has facilitated visual art workshops to youth of under-privileged communities and prisoners in various countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and recently in Africa. Her artistic work and community art-reach is rooted in the social and cultural values she received from her family growing up across Canada. Since, her most impacting education has been learning from different communities around the world. Graffiti has been her passport to enter many restricted places, and the street with its million and one surprises has become her favourite place to paint. In 2004, she also completed a BFA at Concordia University with a degree in Studio Arts. Shalak is a proud member and co-founder of the international artistic collectives “Essencia”, “Las Bruxas Crew”, and “S2 Crew”.

In Shalak's artistic practice, she fuses the spirit and the aesthetics of traditional South American muralism with contemporary graffiti/ street art. Vibrant colours speak through evocative portraits of both real and imaginary characters. Shalak uses colour as a tool to create visual narratives that celebrate and question cultural identity and socio-political values. Her murals have contributed culture, life, consciousness and personality to public and otherwise forgotten spaces. Shalak often seeks to collaborate and dialogue with communities and other artists for the evolution and enrichment of her visual language.

Various highlights in Shalak’s artistic path include receiving a travel grant by OQMJ to participate in the 2Mgraff Festival in Senegal using graffiti as a tool for empowerment (2011): Receiving the Vivacite art grant from the Canada and Montreal Arts Council for the creation of the mural Norte Sur (40ft x 32ft, in 2008); Participating in the creation of the longest mural in the world (1800 meters- 2009 Guinness World Records) for the Muro por la Paz festival in Santiago, Chile; Published on two book covers published by Stanford University (2011) and Peter Lang USA (2009); as well as published in the International book “Mural Art Vol. 2. Murals on Huge Public Surfaces Around the World. From Graffiti to l'oeil” by Losifidis Kiriakos (2009). In 2010, Shalak was invited by the Spanish Embassy's Cultural Center in the Dominican Republic to participate in various mural/graffiti projects including community workshops. In 2009, she participated in the Beaufort 03 International Art Festival in Belgium with the Chilean muralist collective the Brigada Ramona Parra; Participated in the creation of a mural with the Nicaraguan artist Julio Moreno, organized by One Drop Campaign of Cirque du Soleil. Shalak also participated in the Stories without Borders (SWB) project, a socio-artistic collaboration linking Canada and the Middle East through lived experiences about transforming conflict through artistic expression. The SWB collective traveled to Jordan, Palestine and Israel with the support of McGill University’s MMEP program and several NGO’s from the Middle East and Montreal. In 2008, Shalak exhibited in the Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace in Toronto; In 2007 she was commissioned to paint a mural (38m x 6m) for the Paul Grondin Company in Montreal-North, and also exhibited in La Maison de la Culture de Mont-Royal, in Montreal, Quebec.

In the past decade Shalak participated in an internship program with Alternatives and Afro Reggae (Brazil), an NGO that uses art as a tool to engage youth as an alternative to the high risk of violence and drug trafficking of the favelas. She also facilitated visual arts workshops in prisons in Canada and Brazil. She studied one year of fine arts in Oaxaca, Mexico; worked as an art teacher in various cultural and art centers; coordinated various international arts and multi-media exhibitions; designed the architectural floor plans and interior design of a dance club in Rio de Janeiro. Shalak has participated in dozens of mural and group exhibitions and been interviewed by several radio, newspaper and TV channels in Canada and internationaly including the CBC radio, Canal 13 Chile, TQS news, and La Presse to name a few.

Presently, Shalak continues to develop her artistic projects as a visual artist and community art facilitator in Canada and Internationally.

For further information contact:

shalakattack@gmail.com

MuRALs * GrAffiTtI

2011-02-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Turtle Island

(a Shalak Detail)

Mural created by: Aishaa and Shalak

From the Bruxas Crew

Spraypaint, 35ft x 12ft

Rue Dezery et Rue La Fontaine,

Hochelaga, Montreal 2011

Turtle Island
Aishaa and Shalak

Dedicated to the Ancestral legends that unite us from the South to the North, and the East to the West ... Telling the story of the Turtle as Mother Earth and from her back grows the Tree that unites sky women and the ocean...

Dedicado a las leyendas Ancestrales que nos unen atravez del Sur hasta el Norte y el Oeste hasta el Este... La historia de la Tortuga como Madre Tierra y de su espalda crece el Arvol de la vida que une la mujer del cielo y el oceano...

An Iroquois Legend: Sky Woman fell down to the earth when it was covered with water. Different animals tried to swim to the bottom of the ocean to bring back dirt to create land...dirt was placed on the back of a turtle, which grew into the land of North America.

Leyenda de los Mayas: La creación del mundo actual y la humanidad, fue solo un acto en el ciclo eterno de nacimiento, muerte y renovación. Los ciclos de las estaciones y las estrellas en sus recorridos, son reflejos de ésta danza cósmica. El dios del Maíz, ayudado por los Gemelos, emerge de una concha de tortuga, como una mazorca de maíz. El se convierte en el árbol de la vida. El cielo del viejo orden cae cuado Vucub Caquix fue abatido y la gente de madera fue destruida. El cielo del nuevo mundo solo puede emerger por medio de un sacrificio. Los dioses crearon al nuevo mundo por medio de su propio sacrificio., su sangre nutre el árbol de la vida, Este ritual renueva al mundo reestableciendo el orden del cosmos y la creación.

Pachamama

Fiya, Shalak, Aishaa
Bruxas Crew

Spraypaint,
Montreal, 2011

We are One with Pachamama, We must respect her strength, wisdom and balance. Nature's spirit is stronger then our destructive nature, Together WE will overcome.

Somos UNO con la Pachamama, tenemos que respetar su fuerza, sabidura y balance. El espiritu de la Naturaleza es mas fuerte que nuestra naturaleza destructiva, Juntos VENCEREMOS.

NO au "PLAN NORD" du Canada, Y NO a HYDROAYSEN Chilena.

Pachamama

(Shalak detail)

http://www.bandeapart.fm/blogue/Entree.aspx?id=90796

ENtrevue/Entrevista/Interview
avec "As BRUXAS"
Bonde a Part, CBC Radio, Quebec
Juin 2011

Photo-Animation: Indiefotog

"On est Quebec"

Shalak

Spraypaint, 20ft x 8ft

Pour la communauter d'Ile Bizard, Quebec

Commisioner pour la fete National de St.Jean Baptiste

2011

We must first Honor our First Nations of this land to celebrate the identity and meaning of Quebec, and reinforce that in all our diversity and multiculturalism we are Quebec.

Premierement il faut Honore les Premiers Nations de cet terre pour pouvoir celebre l'identite de Quebec, et renforcer qu'ont nous somme Quebec dans tout notre diversite et multiculturalism.

La Naturaleza es sabiduria...

Ojala que la humanidad llegara un dia a respectarla y a conectarnos con su poder...
El Terremoto fue un ejemplo que no somos mas fuerte que ella.. pero que si tenemos el poder de protejerla....

CONCEGRAFF 2011
Talcahuano, Chile

Shalak

-arbolito por Neox-

CONCEGRAFF 2011

Talcahuano, Chile

Con 12 Brillos, Bale, Shalak, Dion y Larri

Video montage: Jano de Doce Brillos

Schizophrenia Urbana Schizophrenia Urbana Smoky/Brasil, Raaul/Chile, Shalak/Canada Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil 2010

Mutations

Dedicado a los presos politicos Mapuches que luchan para la libertad de la Sagrada Tierra

Festival Urbaine, Trois Rivieres, 21 August 2010
Photo: Indiefotog

ESSENCIA

International Graffiti Festival
Montreal, Canada
2010

Photo: Indiefotog

"El Viento no tiene fronteras..."
Shalak

Dedicado a miamor Smoky

ESSENCIA International Graffiti Festival Montreal 2010

"ESSENCIA"

photo-animation: Indiefotog

Manifesto Festival
Shalak detail

with Essencia Crew

Toronto, Canada 2010

Dedicated to the Mapuche political prisoners of Chile and the first nations of the Americas

50 ft Cargo Truck by Essencia Crew:

Fiya, Aishaa, Yara, Careca, Jota P, Shalak (Canada-Brasil)

(Photo: Mariel Rosenbluth)

LAS BRUXAS

Fiya, Shalak, Aishaa

CAN YOU ROCK GRAFFITI FESTIVAL

2010

Photo and animation: Indiefotog

ORGANIKA

Spraypaint
(30ft x 10 ft)

Studio in Montreal, Canada
2010

Photo and animation: Indiefotog

(Details from Organika)

"I am Hip Hop"

Mural by Shalak
SprayPaint (20ft x 25ft)

3732 DeCourtrai, La Maison des Jeunes de Cote-des-Neiges, Montreal, PQ,

Canada

, 2009

Photograph and Photo-Animation: Indiefotog

I am Hip Hop Detail

“Norte Sur”

Artists: Shalak and Guko

Mural; (10m x 12m)
120 Duluth E. Montreal, PQ, Canada, 2008

Photographer and Photo-Animation: Indiefotog

The artists Shalak and Guko are the creators of the Mural Norte Sur. This 10m x 12m mural explores the concepts of duality and co-existence between the North and the South of the Americas. This gigantic artwork pays tribute to the spirit of South American muralism and to the contemporary graffiti movement of North America. Framed in a socio-cultural perspective it depicts the contrasts, unions, and contradictions of identities. The artists used mixed techniques to represent their Canadian-Latin-American heritage.

The artists wish to thank the Vivacité programme sponsored by the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres de Québec, the photographer Indiefotog, the Stamouli family, the House of Friendship, la Maison des Jeunes de Cotes-des-Neiges, et to everyone who inspired this mural.

Entrevista CJNT

Foco Latino, Gilda Monreal, Interviewed, Montreal, November 10th, 2007

Mural "Norte Sur" on the Cover of the book: Diversity and Multiculturalism

by Dr.Shirley Steingberg, Mcgill University

Mural Norte Sur Published in:

Mural Art Vol. 2. Murals on Huge Public Surfaces Around the World. From Graffiti to l'oeil. Losifidis Kiriakos, Published by Publikats-Verlags- und Handels GmbH & Co. Kg., Germany, 2009. 272 pages.

Mural "Paul Grondin"

Shalak, Guko, Pito et Nose

(120ft x 20 ft) Montana SprayPaint

Rue LaCordaire, just north of La rue Des-Grandes-Prairies, Montreal-North, Quebec 2007

(North-West side of the train tracks)

The Shalak Close-up

The Shalak process

Photos: Indiefotog

TQS News Television

Interview with La Grande Journal, E. Rancourt, September 30, 2007

"Decaying Empire I"

Installation/Performance/Graffiti piece

Created by: Fiya and Shalak

Exhibited at:

La Maison de la Culture de Mont-Royal (Montreal), 2007

Special thanks to Indiefotog (photography), and Guko (technical assistance).

"Decaying Empire II"

Installation/Performance/Graffiti piece

Created by: Fiya and Shalak

Exhibited at:

Salvador Allende Festival for Peace, ASpace Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Sept 2008

Los Muertos del Kactus

Shalak y Fiya
Spraypaint (10ft x 10ft)

Kactus Pub, Chillan, Chile

2010

Raices, ORgullo, FUerza, POder...

Teo (puiiui), RAoul, Smoky, Shalak, Rodrogo, Deros, Barbara.

Spraypaint, (25ft x 30ft)

St.Vincente de Tagua Tagua, Chile

2010

Muro por la Paz

Shalak detail

Spraypaint, (2m x 2.5m)
En el Record Guiness Mundial, Penalolen, Chile.
2009

Escola para as communidades de Jacare e Manguinho

Shalak Detail
Spraypaint, (1.5 m x 1.0m)

Suburbana, RJ, Brasil, 2010

(Projeto da Prefeitura com Smoky)

"Pensamientos Convertidos"

Shalak e Jota P,
Spraypaint (2.5m x 4m)
Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Carnaval 2010

Una leyenda en Achao

As Bruxas Crew
Fiya, Aishaa, Shalak
spraypaint, (7.5m x 6m)
Achao, Chiloe, Chile
2009

This Mural was created in collaboration with the youth and community of Achao, Chiloe. This mural is a manifestation of the Legends they told from these lands.

Photo montage: Shalak attack

One Drop Mural com Cirque du Soleil

Acrylic (14m x 12 m)
Collaboration with the Nicaraguen Muralist Julio Moreno

Montreal, Canada, 2009

Grito Raices
Aishaa, Fiya, Guko, Indiefotog, Pito, Shalak

(10m x 12m), Rue de Gaspe/Fairmount, 2009

Shalak Detail

Los Colores Venceran

Fiya, Shalak, Pito, Aishaa
Spraypaint (15m x 3m)

Meeting of Styles, Montreal 2009

foto: Indiefotog

Los Colores Venceran

Our strongest weapon is our creativity and imaginacao.
Dedicado a los ninos de la guerra, los ninos soldados...

Okupation

Spraypaint, 12ft x 15ft

Under Pressure International Graffiti Festival
Montreal 2009

Mural Capoeira Brasileira

Spraypaint, 15ft x 10 ft
Montréal, 2009

Freestyle

Smoky, Shock, Shalak, Costela, Aishaa

Brasilandia, Sao Paulo

2010

(Shalak Detail)

Retrato do Smoky,

Presente de aniversario feito com tudo o meu amor.

La Espiral

Spraypaint, 40ft x 6ft

S2 Crew: Smoky and Shalak

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 2010

"Shalak Attack"

Brasilandia, Sao Paulo

2010

Festival HipHop You Don't Stop
Montreal, Canada
2010

Festival HipHop You Don't Stop
Montreal, Canada

Photo-Animation: Indiefotog

Para La Abuelita Hilda

con todo amor y carino de tus nietos

Smoky, Shalak, Laurii

Spraypaint, 35ft x 8ft

Chillian, Chile 2010

"DuDa"

Under Pressure International Graffiti Festival

Montreal, Canada

2010

Roots totem

Las Bruxas Crew e 12 Brillos

Spraypaint, 18m x 3m
Santiago, Chile, 2009

Roots totem
Shalak Detail

Malucations

PDF Crew (Brazil), 12 Brillos (Chile) y Bruxas Crew (Canada)

Spraypaint (12m X 2,25 m)
Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, Brazil

2010

Homenagem a Travis Pepito Ignacio

Shalak Detail
2010

Feliz Cumpleanos Papa

Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana

Dec 6th 2010

Part I of a series of hiphop workshops with "Repulika Libre"

Shalak on the Spraypaint
Portrait of a youth of the community of Guachupita,

St.Dom, Dominican Republic 2010

Part II of a series of hiphop workshops with "Repulika Libre"

Smoky, Shalak

S2 Crew

In the community Savana Larga

St.Domingo, Dominican Republic 2010

"Pintando mi Camino"

Shalak y Laurii

Centro de Capacitacion Laboral Bernardo O'Higgins

Chillian, Chile

2011

Primas trabajando juntas

Fuerza Raices

Festival Urbain, Trois Rivieres, 2009

Shalak, Guko, Aishaa, Indiefotog

Proyecto PAC Rosinha, Rio de Janeiro

2010

Proyecto PAC Jacarezinho, Rio de Janeiro

with "Smoky"

2010

Proyecto PAC Jacarezinho, Rio de Janeiro

with "Smoky"

2010

***

Freestyles

***

S2 Cru Pescados

Smoky, Shalak

Cabarete Beach, Dominican Republic

2010

shalak in action!

Shalak detail

Portrait Tony Hasbun

St.Dom, Dom.Republic

2010

***

Rauul, Smoky, Shalak

Sao paulo, Brasil 2010

25th december

Shalak Detail

Jugando con lo invisible

Sao Paulo 2010

***

Freestyle interactive

Valparaiso 2011

MOnsteR FacE

Rauul, Bonga, Smoky, Shalak

Sao Paulo, Brasil 2010

***

Freestyle

Peco, Shalak, Andri...

Santiago, Chile 2011

Shalak y Noex (arbolitos)

Santiago, Chile 2011

El muro que habla

Montreal 2009

Vila Duarte, Dom Republic 2010

Guerreira,

St.Dom, Dom.Rep 2010

***

El tercer Ojo

Sao Paulo 2011

Bomber on car

St. Dom, Dominican Rep 2010

***

StreetStyle

Rodoviara, Rio de Janeiro

2010

***

minina linda

Sao Paulo 2010

***

Montreal, Canada

May 2010

***

Freestyle

Valparaiso, Chile

2010

Freestyle

Playa, Republica Dominicana

Augosto 2010

Festival Hip Hop SESC Sao Goncalo

Rio de Janeiro

2010

Rauul (chile) Shalak

Sao Paulo, Brasil

Shalak y Nino de la Pinturas

Granada, Espana 2009

Shalak, Guko
2008

Guko, Shalak

'Shalak' and 'Guko'
Montreal

Shalak, Guko, Fiya
Spring 2007, Montreal

'Shalak' and 'Gaston'

July 2006

Montreal

'SbuOne', 'Gaston' et 'Shalak'

July 2006

Montreal

***

MY FIRST GRAFFITI
'Shalak' with 'O-Crespo'

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

2005

***

Kreacao (Anniversario da Muleca), 2010

Manguinho, Rio de Janeiro

Freestyling

***

ShalakAttack (multirao para Muleca!!) 2010

Tujica, Rio de Janeiro

Guerreira dos Cores, 2010

Mural (1.5m x 2.5m), Para Paz, RJ, Brasil

Medio: Pintura aérosol sobre muro.

Galera Pintando em Sao Goncalo o fim de semana!!!

Bula*Leu*Pacato*Smoky*Shalak*Fiya

2010

Shalak Detail

More Contracts

Barbershop

Vila Duarte, Santo Domingo

Republica Dominicana 2010

Smoky, Not, Shalak

Elementary School Yard

Montreal, Canada

2010

Elementary School

Montreal, Canada

2010

***

Marquesa Mercado de Carne

Smoky, Shalak

2010

***

Bar do Peixe

Smoky, Shalak

Sao Paulo, Brasil

2010

Stage Set for Chilean Association, 2009

***

Elementary School Yard

Montreal, Canada

2010

Elementary School Yard

Montreal, Canada

2010

Elementary School

Montreal, Canada

2009

Interior Wall in a home kitchen, 2009

***

Logo painted for School (Chile)

CAnVaS * Mixed Media

2011-02-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

CANVAS

Sorceresse
1 meter x 1 meter,

Spraypaint, acrylic and airbrush

Montreal, 2010
Part of the Afro Latin Soul Series

"Angel Guardiante"
(Guarding Angel)

1 meter x 1 meter,
Spraypaint and acrylic
2010

Madre Tierra, ella nacio para defenderte... ella sera tu guerrera hasta el fin de todos los colors para defender tu libertad, tu sabiduria, tu encanto y tu poder... ella nos invita a ver el verde du nuestras queridas raices y defenderlas, porque ellas son la vida.

*
Pachamama, she was born to defend you... she is your warrior until the end of colour to defend your freedom, your wisdom, your encantement and your strength... She invites us to see the green of our sweet roots and to defend them, because they are our life.

***

I believe in her

(kon-vik"shon)

(Passion: detail)

PAssioN

Spray paint and acrylic on canvas

6ft x 2.5ft, Montréal, Québec, 2009

NO ONE IS ILLEGAL
70 cm x 90 cm, Spray, airbrush, acrylic
Montreal,

2010

part of the Afro Latin Soul series

***

AFRO LATIN SOUL
4 ft x 8 ft, Spraypaint on wooden panel
Montreal 2010
part of the Afro Latin Soul series

***

Asi es

40‘’ x 70’’, acrylic and spraypaint on canvas
Montréal, Québec 2009

***

Untitled portrait, 2010
(30cm x 45cm) Brazil. Acrylico sobre papel

SeLvA
1 meter x 1 meter, Spraypaint on canvas
Montreal 2010

Montreal
(comissioned for old Montreal loft apartements)
7 ft x 5 ft, spraypaint and acrylic
2010

Afro Latin Soul Exhibit

Bobards, Montreal 2010

***

CAras Series

Creations on wood panels

***

Penando
2006, oil and mixed-media on canvas

Je te laisserait pas me deraciner
2007 (Chile), oil and acrylic on canvas

We all become
2006, oil and acrylic on canvas

Frozen Shadow
2006, oil and acrylic on canvas

Foblazexplosion (Aritst's CD cover)
2006, oil and acrylic on canvas

Bossa Nova Lied
2006, oil and acrylic on canvas

View of Shalak's paintings at art expo
Boa, Feb 2007

***

Portrait Regina
comissioned 2010

The Begining
A selection of Shalak Paintings from 2000-2004

El Pueblo Unido
2002, oil on canvas, 120cm x 200cm

Sacrifice2004, oil and mixed-media on Masonite, 140cm x 85 cm

Carnaval
2004, oil and mixed media on canvas, 145cm x 145cm

Underconciousness
2004, oil and acrylic on masonite, 150cm x 185cm

Baile Conmigo
2000, oil on canvas, 120cm x 120cm

El Pochote2001, etching print (Oaxaca, Mexico), 17cm x 25cm

ILLUSTRATIONS

Shalak Illustration and Design

Comission for the Alemda Theatre Company

Toronto, Canada

2010

INDUSTRIA

Egoismo, Capitalismo, Escravidao... Nao e sempre que o povo que trabalha como a base de nossa economia global vai aguantar a injusticia da inhumanidade...

A MAchinA Nao pode mais funccionar sim suas tacticas oppresoras... Que sera de nosso mundo si a pyramide do poder caer... e que cada ser humano seria tratado com respeito, integridade, e igualdade?

Shalak Design in Brasilian Magazine. 2010

***

Chairs Spraypainted

Festival Montreal 2010

***

AIRBRUSH t-shirts

Fuerza Raices collection 2010

Feb 20th - 6 Ma

***

Micheal Jackson

Cara

Somos la Voz
Shalak Spray Attack 2009

***

T-shirt design for Stories Without Borders 2009

***

SHALAK TATTOO

FEATHER BIRDS
Montreal 2010

LUNA
Republica Dominicana
2010
***

... and this is how it all sarted!!
Montreal 2009:

Shalak's First Human Tattoo

BEFORE
AFTER

Art Bio

2011-01-03T08:55:00.001-08:00

ARTREACH: Community Expressions

2011-01-01T08:50:00.000-08:00

I believe that creative expression can be a very powerful tool for social change an engagement. As an Art facilitator my main objective is to be able to promote social equality, self-esteem, empowerment and motivation through education and artistic expression to individuals and communities alike.

My motivation comes from the belief that every human being has the capacity and right to health, education, a safe environment, respect, and freedom of expression. My experiences of working within different communities in North and South America

, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Europe,

have opened my consciousness to very difficult social contexts. Being able to participate and collaborate alongside the creators, the action takers and the participants of different organizations has become a huge benefit to my personal and professional growth.

Artistic Program coordinator and Interventionist at la
MAISON DES JEUNES DE COTE-DES-NEIGES 2006-2009

I currently work in Montreal at la Maison des Jeunes CDN a visual arts facilitator and art program coordinator. Creation en Couleur is the name of our program, which includes painting, mural/graffiti, drawing, creative sewing and clothing design workshops. The painting workshops started last fall with an introduction to graffiti painting, and as winter began it evolved into individual painting projects. The youths' interest and the success of these workshops have been phenomenal and very inspiring. In the spring of 2008, MDJ recieved a grant from the city of Montreal to officially support this program, and since we have been able to create a studio with necassary materials accessible for the youth. We have participated in several exibitions, and the youth have since sold their artwork to private collectors, and have been chosen to be apart of McGill's SEDE 2008-09 calender.
This summer we are currently working on a mural on our Decurtrai location where the music and theatre workshops take place, as well as working on the backdrops for the MDJ Musical-Theatre piece that will be presented in August of 2008.

MDJ Photography Project

A Mural/Graffiti Workshop for Individual and Community development
By Elisa Monreal
August of 2006 for the organization Alternatives

Creating my path as I go...

2007-03-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

i dreamt
when i was seven; i saw monkey paws and green massive tree soldiers gobbled up by matas enredadas en una selva... Inside she happened, and its been 17 years since i began to glue her mermaid shingles to my legs.

Far far off in another dimension of pure possibility, i woke up in a fever of her. i dreamt after, and again, an never seeming to begin, i kept sinking deeper swallowed by the abyss of my imagination`s kiss awakenned:

In January of 2005, I was finally able to live one of my most longed dreams to make it to Brazil. Without a plan I followed my intuition on a life changing trip which I began at my roots in Chile with my infinite family members. One long awaited day I crossed the border to Mendoza, Argentina, and adventured through to Buenos Aires and then the Iguazu falls. On the 27th of April I got on a bus with my friend and crossed the border to Brazil. Finally, after multiple 20 hour bus rides all the way from Chile, I arrived to my long awaited destiny in Rio de Janeiro. In a matter of days, I found my self bombarded by a domino effects of doors which opened new worlds, passions and opportunities for me.

The first door that opened was a commision to paint a mural, which I worked on for a total of about 70 hours in the next couple months. This led me to a job designing the floor plan for a club and working on a 10 foot mosaic on the bar top. Meanwhile I also began to work in an NGO called the Peoples Palace Project (PPP), where I participated as a visual artist in divers projects that facilitate and encourage the communication and confront the taboos between prisoners and prison-guards. The PPP also works with the youths in the favelas, who are at risk or have family members in the penitentiary system. In June, I was invited to give visual art workshops with the objective of enhancing the possibilities of possible material and process to arrive at a unique and individual expression of each participant. I held this workshop in a Women’s penitentiary for 10 prisoners as well as in the NGO for the actual artists working there who are trained in dance and theatre and wanted to learn different methods of expression for their own work in the Brazilian communities. This experience deeply impacted me as an individual and as an artist. It also allowed me to see the possibility of empowerment to individuals and community by using art as the means of expression.

Another Step
On July 19th I got back to Montreal just in time to celebrate my sisters 27th birthday. I started working right away in a Chilean restaurant (aka "la Chilenita"-the best hot sauce and empanadas around!!), and soon decided to dedicate my energies to keep pushing my dreams. I applied to an internship at Alternatives, and that was it, my stars alligned once again in crazy synchronisity! After making it past the application process and the 9 hour interview with 50 other people, 19 of us where chosen to make up the next interns for Africa and South-East Asia. I had intially had my heart set on going back to Brazil, but seeing as thought the internships were not going that way I decided that India was my next destination. Two weeks into the internship, one of our coordinators Eve Belanger (whom I share a crazy "for realla on the real" synchronisity, because we had met in Rio just a couple of months prior on Ipanema beach) had decided to go back to Rio and work for an organisation she had been volunteering at before called Afro Reggae. At her good bye party, she took me to the side and asked me if i would "mind" that if on this internship I be sent back to Brazil and work with her in Afro Reggae. It happened that a new position had opened up for Brazil, and because of my recent experience there and my newly aquiered knowledge of portugues (or more precisely "portunol"- my mix of portuguese and spanish). It was perfect, and I was completly overwhelmed and incredibly feliz that they chose me, and that my destiny had unraveled to bring me back to the place of my dreams.

Afro Reggae

2006-10-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

The next three months in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
I will be working in Afro Reggae for the last three months of my internship, by facilitating basic information technology classes. I hope to learn as much as I can facilitate with the knowledge and experiences I have aquiered, and hopefully work with Afro Reggae through artistic expression (i.e. muralism) in the communities.

Afro Reggae
Afro Reggae seems to be rising from a drowning reality of the extreme inequalities which currently overwhelm Brazils` society. Born out of circumstance and need, Afro Reggae has been growing for more then ten years as a grass-roots organization. Their objectives began and still stand as a way to have direct dialogue with the youths and Afro-Brazilian population imprissoned in and by circumstance in the favelas. By using expression, art and culture as a method to engage the youth in a fresh and dynamic way, they have been increasingly successful and recognized.

Afro Reggae performing in Viagrio Geral

Working with limited outside investment and resources, Afro Reggae has given everything they could in the potential of the youth by developing and promoting education, culture and art. By doing this they are determined to create alternative options in the favelas which are plagued by police and narco-trafficking violence. Through out their existance, Afro Reggae has been working to break free from the prejudices that separate the black from the white and the rich from the poor, which they assert is the only alternative to create a durable long lasting peace. They believe that the most efficient way to promote development within the country is to create opportunities to those who are only known as just another number and statistic of poverty and violence, and inturn give them the resources to become contributing citizens in the construction of their own livelihoods.

Rio Rio Rio

2006-01-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

Santa Teresa

Na Lapa

Irma da Rosali

Praia Ipanema na tardecer

Getulio na Santa Teresa

-escultor de material recyclado-

Rio de Novo

2006-01-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

A Vista perto de minha casa, olhando Rio desde no Santa Teresa
La vista al lado de mi casa, viendo Rio desde Santa Teresa
The view from beside my home, seeing Rio from Santa Teresa