The artist, Ai Weiwei, is internationally known as a contemporary artist and outspoken dissident. When I read the signage accompanying these bold colored vases, understanding that they are created by someone who is known as an outspoken dissident in China tells me a lot. He is brave and courageous, in my opinion a Champion of Justice. To speak out in opposition to his government in China means something far greater than speaking out against our government here in the USA means for us. While sitting at the bar counter in the Taste cafe of the Seattle Art Museum recently I talked to a lady who visited Ai Weiwei in his home. She said he cannot leave China, cannot leave Beijing, but anyone can come visit him. And she said it was obvious there were security cameras watching his home.
I cannot imagine! Having your home under surveillance. Not being able to leave your country or the city you live in! She also mentioned that because of the world's eyes being watchful, he is also somewhat protected. The world would protest if he was harmed.
I visited the Seattle Asian Art Museum for the first time on April 5th. I am not familiar with Asian Art (being raised more actively in the Native American community than the Filipino community). As I walked through the galleries of ceramics, paintings and objects I was somewhat lost. I didn't have the context to understand what I was looking at. My routine when seeing a new art exhibit is to do a quick walk through and then come back to visit my favorite pieces. I stopped and looked at a huge piece, a 17th Century/1800's hanging scroll depicting a story of Buddha. It was faded from time but the artistry was phenomenal. I am not very familiar with Buddha's life or teachings. But it reminds me of the huge Nativity scene from the exhibit Peru: Kingdom of the Sun and Moon. A teaching tool. Telling the story of the life of Christ.
Ai Weiwei's colored vases are traditional vases dipped in bold colors. A symbol of our Ancient story being disguised by today's contemporary culture yet still powerfully present. When thinking about the courage of Ai Weiwei to use his art to stand up for justice and freedom, it makes me think of Joan Miro and his opposition to the Franco dictatorship and regime that held captive his home of Spain for nearly 40 years, ending just in 1976. When I think of Spain, I don't think of a dictatorship or tyranny and oppression. But really it's barely 40 years since they have been free. As an American, I take the freedom of speech and the freedom to vote for granted. I am privileged with this luxury in a world full of tyranny and oppression.
These artists inspire me to say the hard things that need to be said. There are women and children in our community made vulnerable by the actions and choices of unhealthy and selfish men. I am not saying that all men are unhealthy or selfish. I am deeply grateful for the men in my life who cherish their partners and protect, not harm, their women and children. But the women who are hurt emotionally, psychologically with or without physical violence by their intimate partners need our support and encouragement.
One to help them see that they are indeed living with dominance, tyranny and oppression in their homes. Two to help aid them in their relationship, to find ways of building autonomy and freedom in their daily lives. Three to support them to leave if and when they are ready. I have to say that it's not only men who can be unhealthy and selfish and harm their families, but they tend to be the majority in numbers and men have more power in our historically patriarchal American society. Men who use children as tools for control. Men who leave women without their fair share of martial or familial resources make the children more vulnerable. When you leave a women to struggle to make ends meet, you leave your children more vulnerable.
I have a friend whose husband during the divorce lived in the family home, causing his children to live elsewhere. And when the family home was finally awarded to the mother and children they moved back in only to receive notice the mortgage hadn't been paid and the house was in foreclosure. What was that father thinking? I have another friend whose home was purchased with her family's inheritance she received because she has a chronic illness and cannot study or work, and in divorce proceedings the husband is asking for half of the value of the house. Leaving his children vulnerable because the mother will be more vulnerable.
It's my experience that our community does not speak to these men. They don't show them how selfish these acts are, how harmful they are for their children or ask them to step up and be a mature and responsible father and ensure the safety and security of their children through the safety and security of the mother of their children.
In my own path, I also gave up a home, to leave my marriage. But for me the lack of consideration and obligation was even more injurious when it was time for me to return to school. My youngest daughter was starting kindergarten and I began to take classes part-time. When I needed help scheduling their visits with their father around my class and homework schedule, there was no cooperation. When the kids were sick and I needed help so I could go to class. There was no sense of reciprocity. I had helped him become a doctor. For 8 years of my life I cared for our children so he could go to school. He never missed a class or a shift at the hospital because one of his kids was sick. But when it was time for me to go to school post-divorce, there was no awareness of the debt he owed me. To my knowledge no one has called him on this. No one has pointed out to him the lack of consideration he has for the well-being of his daughters.
My belief is we cannot achieve world peace if we cannot build peace in our homes, our families, and our daily lives. If you know of a woman in the middle of divorce, divorced or parenting as a single parent, reach out to her. Encourage her. Take her out for coffee. Or bring by a meal, so she can take a break from planning, cooking, cleaning and storing a dinner. Pick up the kids to take them to the park. Or to the museum! (You know my passion for museums). And if you are really brave take out the father for coffee and ask him what's going on and how is he ensuring the well-being of his children.
Art. Activism. Building strong and healthy homes and communities will create more peace in the world.
