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With information from Anna Lee Mraz. Pensula 360 Press.
Students of the organization Cultural Center House, located in the heart of North Fair Oaks, in San Mateo County, took on the task of analyzing and discussing hate, and how it can be countered through art.
And art has an important social function in our society. Diego Rivera, a very important Mexican muralist, says that art has the characteristic of transforming people from those who use it as a means of expression, to those who see it and perceive it as a spectator, says Dr. Anna Lee Mraz Bartra, a sociologist.
He added that art is a production of knowledge, as well as a transmitter of knowledge, and a revealer of what has been unnoticed or overlooked.
Last week, Casa Cálculo Cultural held classes and workshops on how art can be used to counteract hatred in our societies, with special attention to minimizing it, since it can be established as a fundamental support mechanism for the process of justice and equity in the world.
Hanny Crespo, an art teacher at Casa Cálculo Cultural, said that the work she did sought to help children not only find a way to stop hatred, but also to avoid provoking it.
"Your work is about how we can stop hate, but instead of drawing how to stop it, you are drawing what good things you can do to not provoke hate," she told Pensula 360 Press.
Working with the little ones went beyond just coloring or painting.
"We talked, they all sat on the floor and we talked about what they think, what hate is and how we can promote love and kindness, not only with human beings, but with living beings in general, not only people, but animals too," Crespo said.
Little girls Arleen and Giana gave their testimony.
"Hi, I'm Arleen and I'm 13 years old. At Casa Cálculo Cultural we're currently doing a project about hate in the world. I'm painting a hand," said the student of the non-profit organization.