“Indigenous people believe that without artists, the tribal psyche would wither to death. Artistic ability, the capacity to heal, 
and the vision to see into the Other World are connected. There is only a thin line between the artist and the healer. In fact, there is no word for art in the Dagara language. The closest term to it would be the same word as sacred.”
- Malidoma Some, The Healing Wisdom of Africa.
~~Belfast, Northern Ireland:
Playwrite Ewan Jeffrey reads in the paper about countrymen who have gone missing. What happens, he wonders, to those left behind?
~~Kharkov, Ukraine:
After being diagnosed with cancer at age thirteen, Valentyn Odnoviun is hospitalized and undergoes seven chemotherapy treatments and two aggressive rounds of radiation over the course of four years. When he is finally released, his body is so atrophied, he must relearn how to walk. Not all the children on his ward, however, make it out. Odnoviun picks up his camera.
~Norfolk Virginia, United States:
While researching for a new series of paintings honoring women, Ramel Jasir comes across news articles detailing the practice of “honor killings.” He sits stunned.
Three artists, each from a very different part of the world, deeply affected by tragedy around them. But they are not social workers, nor journalists, human rights advocates nor politicians. What power can one individual possibly have? The only tools at their disposal: what lies within their imaginations; their ability to see and feel deeply the pain of others, to find beauty inside the human condition, and then to translate this to a form that touches others. The power of art.
* * *
Irish Playwright Ewan Jeffrey: “ I think art is a massive entity that can emerge in the most surprising places.”
After reading about the sudden rash of disappearances in his country, an idea for a new kind of play began to form: “The People Left Behind,” based on interviews Jeffrey himself conducted: “The stories have been very harrowing – I’ve found a bead of sweat falling down my face sometimes!”
So what is it like to have someone close to you just one day vanish? The playwright witnessed a range of emotions: anger, 
bemusement, sadness, even black humor. One recurrent factor, though, has been others‘ lack of sensitivity (for example, a bereaved mother tentatively visiting a pub two years after her son’s disappearance, only to run into a ‘friend’ who cheerily explains: ‘Oh, you’re here! I take it you’ve got over everything then?’).
But equally as fascinating is the unconventional way Jeffrey has chosen to tell his story. “There are actually two performances happening simultaneously: a staged play which features a community support group for those who have missing relatives; and then meanwhile, at staggered intervals, a ‘missing’ person (from a different set of actors to the staged play) will invite an audience member to go with them out to the city, where that actor will deliver an interactive semi-improvised monologue about his/her disappearance.” In total, eight actors take eight individual audience members out over the course of the play. They are all reunited at the end.
Jeffrey: “I like to think about performance in new ways. The audience members will all have different, personal experiences. They will be unique, and even when asked afterward by partners or friends, ‘What happened to you?’ they won’t remember every detail. For me it’s a bit like exploring the problematic nature of memory as well as pushing the boundaries of what ‘audience participation’ is. Of course there are certain frustrations and challenges with this kind of narrative but I love the idea of all these stories happening in different places.”
* * *
Twenty-four-year-old Ukranian photographer, Valentyn Odnoviun:
“People don’t have problems they cannot solve. But to solve them, you must start by doing something.”
When Odnoviun surprised everyone, himself included, by defeating his cancer, he was heady with gratitude. The young Soviet began documenting with a camera the natural beauty he was now seeing with new eyes around him. Not just flowers, but single blades of grass withstanding the pelting rain, water trickling down muddy banks…everywhere, signs of courage, hope, tenacity.
Odnoviun’s photography gained an enthusiastic following. His solo exhibits garnered prestigious recognition from far-reaching quarters. But always there was this accompanying sadness: memories of the children, his friends, who had not been so lucky. After all, he knew what it was like to be where they were now: body too weak to walk to his hospital room window, beautiful hair released in clumps, boyish face swollen to grotesque proportions. But the worst insult of all: the reactions by others who couldn’t bear to see children suffering: The looking away, always the looking away.
And so it was time to do a different kind of exhibit. Until that point, Valentyn Odnoviun had guarded well his cancer secret. He’d wanted to be respected solely for his talent—not followed out of pity. But the time had come to use his illness for the benefit of others. The next series would be of the children. A show that would generate much needed funding for care of the hospitalized children, proceeds that would go straight into the hands of the children’s mothers themselves.
These are the some of the photos:
“You can’t dismiss them, saying, ‘Oh, so many children have cancer! There’s nothing we can do to help them.’ No. They need our support.” ßut, cautions Odnoviun, it’s important not to take away the children’s dignity in the process. “People want to treat them like a puppy. ‘Oh, how sad! How sweet!’ they say.
No, they are strong! I myself went in as a kid, and I came out a man.”
* * *
Ramel Jasir:
“When it comes to ‘Honor Killings.’ mothers, fathers, siblings, friends are either the perpetrators or turn a blind eye when comes to the destruction of one woman’s life to restore a family’s so-called honor. Even today, women of many different cultures (not just Islamic) can be murdered if it has been determined that dishonor has been brought to the family via her actions. This can be the result of wearing clothing deemed unacceptable to the family, wanting to terminate an arranged marriage, engaging in sexual acts with someone of the same or opposite sex, etc…. In one case here in the U.S, a a man killed his daughter because she took a job at Walmart. He felt she was becoming too westernized.”
“This painting came from a picture of a young woman by the name of Sabia Rani (19 yrs old) who was beaten by her husband over a period of three weeks until she was finally murdered by her husband while her in-laws turned a blind eye. 
In the painting I used her face as a reference. I added the broken nose, jaw, burned and scared face as a culmination of all the stories I had read that day in regards to some of the brutal and horrific attacks inflicted on these helpless women. Many of were not murdered, but left scared and disfigured for life from attacks such as being doused in gasoline and burned or immersed in acid. A lot of the attacks were over things we here in the west would deem trivial. Please do not think that this only goes on in eastern countries because there are thousands of attacks in Europe, the U.S. and Canada every year.”
Can one artist make a ripple?
Jasir: “Well, I just got invited to exhibit and speak about my work at Hamilton College in NY. Last night I was contacted by a gallery owner in India to do a show there. Last week I was invited to do a presentation and speak about honor killings before the next class of Chaplains at Sentara Norfolk General in November–and they commissioned seven paintings! I guess all of my work was not in vain!”
* * *
Further notes:
“The People Left Behind” will be part of Belfast Festival 2011, running October 14th – 30th October 2011 – Event Details | The People Left Behind www.belfastfestival.com
“May God Help Kids” which premiered February 2011, was Valentyn’s fourth solo exhibit. He is presently gearing up for his next show: “Face It,” with the backs of heads as metaphor for how people typically respond to the reality of children with cancer.
Cancer is the #1 cause of disease-related death for children.
I was asked an interesting question earlier today…………..”Ramel, do you think one artist can make a difference?”…. Absolutely!……….Is the short answer but the question inspired me to write more in regards to the question….lol
It has always been my goal to use art as a vehicle to create constructive dialogue and awareness in regards to many of the social, political, cultural and human rights issues that go undocumented, neglected or ignored every day. Sometimes the difference made is not always by the artist. It can also just be a piece of work that inspire a whole movement that the artist does not necessarily support because it just so happens that the onlooker was moved or touched in a way where it may spark a revolution or just cause a person to touch his/her love one in a way he/she may not have ever dreamed possible……… sounds poetic?…LOL Maybe… but it is true! That is why we are called visual artist. It is our goal to create works of art that hopefully intrigue the onlooker to the degree that he/she find some kind of emotional connection to the body of work. That is why I like creating works of art that make people think of freedom, love, family and empowerment.
I like to think of my artwork as an extension of my self like an arm or leg….lol When a piece is sold, it often starts as a long kiss goodbye by the way I talk about it, sign it, wrap it, take final looks at it and hand it over to its new owner……. because for me, every piece I create is an intimate experience between me, my brushes, the palette, paints, water bowl and canvas. All has its own distinct nature in regards how they interact when creating and must be respected because they are the vehicle through which I put a tangible face on my ideas and also put a tangible face on hope and the right to live with human dignity as in my series “Where is the Honor?”. My purpose in creating the series was to put a spot light on an otherwise unknown or ignored issue to the western world but it happens in our own backyard as well. It was created to inspire activism and protest where ever customs, traditions or religious ideology exist to that negate basic human rights, self worth and free thinking among women and children not only in so-called underdeveloped countries but in undeveloped minds of men/women in power throughout the world. It is usually men that commit many of these horrible acts, but there are many women who condone and partake in out right murder to protect and maintain the family’s “honor” as if it was some divine decree to subjugate, murder, demonize and dehumanize women if they decide to leave an abusive marriage, marrying out side of their clan or religion or just for being raped which was something obviously totally out of her control……..and yes it happens everyday and it has been happening throughout the history of man. Today, there are approximately seven billion human beings on Earth, all of which were born through the womb of woman. Over one hundred million children are born every year and over half a million women die during or after child birth. Not to mention the untold millions who have died through out human existence. As human beings we have never been more technologically advanced, well fed and more educated about the inner workings of our bodies and the universe around us. Yet the issue of women’s rights is still a discussion or non-discussion in some circles. We dishonor the many women who have lived, died, and sacrificed everything for the human family during slavery, the wars of man and Monday Night Foot Ball for years….lol Sorry for the long rambling response….
..
the river flows endlessly.
When death, misery and the ring
of hell surrounds you everyday,
when darkness comes as charcoal mist
and smudges every white canvas
of light, happiness and joy
that you call your life, then accept this:
as your feelings stumble forth,
the ravaging and the onslaught
of heartbreak variables will continue,
then love furiously and passionately,
plastering and binding the hurt
with your human spirit.
I expect you to be beautiful,
sparkling and courageous,
not realised;
there is no stopping or glancing back –
the river flows endlessly.
Great article and my response is pending!
This is beyond beautiful, my lovely friend! Passion in its purest sense.Thank you for sharing your heart.
it seems almost ungraspable that people in such various and equally heinous situations can create something that is either articulating,sophisticated,even beautiful,and this in regard to events which seemed hopeless and endless. each of this works of art then,testify on the resilience of man,on hers or his’ inerradicable instinct to go forth,no matter the consequences and seemingly regardless the circumstances. sometimes pain is transponded,and it needed to be. the portraits in particular seem to look you in the eye as if there wasn’t a [n artistic] medium involved,as if it was this direct encounter,also in commemoration of the horribly abused woman. art is necessary to give room,weight,lightness,raffinement or brusqueness,just what is needed,there and then.
One shivers to imagine a world without art. Art is the human spirit made manifest!
Deanna, thank you for this beautiful page. I thought it was interesting the idea of healing and art. As I looked through the stories on this page and seeing the accompanying art I thought what a perfect illustration of the concept. I read a tragic story and then viewed some of the beautiful art work. It did not take the pain away but, it did change the nature of the pain. In the end that just might be what healing is. Thank you Beautiful Lady~
Chet: Yes! Yes! To quote Valentyn Odnoviun: “People complain about some of my nature photographs. ‘Oh we don’t see any bright flower!’ But I am that small blade of grass, and it’s raining. Yeah, it’s raining; but it’s a shiny day and I’m growing. The rain can pound down on me, kick my butt; but look! It has made me grow stronger. After the rain is over, we’re better because of it. Stronger. Calm.”
Deanna, how I love Combustus. Ever provocative and always perfectly visual, this edition is as emotionally captivating as it is evidently designed to make change central.
Frank,
I am so glad you have received it this way! Dancing in your words, Friend! Catching them on my tongue!
I know that man. Respect!
Valentyn,
Congratulations! What a wonderful article. The photographs art outstanding.
Barbara
Yes thanks Deanna for such a wonderful article. I really appreciate you helping the artists featured in the article share what we hold so dear to our hearts. I like to call it “art activism”….lol The issues featured in our stories will probably continue long after we leave this planet but our work will survive and continue to be a symbol of hope and promise of a better tomorrow! Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments as well. If anyone would like to see more of my work, please visit my website: rameljasirart.com or visit me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rameljasir …. Friend requests are welcome……Blessings!
Your art and activism has made me feel you have lived inside my skin and ai am eternally grateful for your respect for life.
here is a sacred poem I wrote with two close friends in 2003.
GOD BLESS THE HUMAN RACE
OUR CHILDREN CAN NO LONGER AFFORD SUCH DISGRACE
GOD IS LIFE GOD IS LOVE
AND ALL CREATURES WITH HEARTS AND A FACE … PICTURE…(MAN FROM SUDAN)
SEEK NOT TO END KILLING WITH KILLING, TO END VIOLENCEWITH VIOLENCE
TO QUELL ANGER WITH ANGER
OR TO EMBODY THE ENEMY OF OUR OWN CREATION
FOR
IN DESTROYING OUR FELLOW
DESTROYING OURSELVES WILL FOLLOW
FOR WE ARE NOT SEPERATE FROM
EACHOTHER
…AUDREY , DAN, AND KATHRYN
A beautiful community that just keeps growing larger, with voices strong and far-reaching. Thank you for sharing your words here, Kathryn.
god bless the human race. our children can no longer afford such disgrace. god is life god is love and all creatures with hearts and a face. seek not to end killing with killlingto end violence with violence to quell anger with anger or to embody the enemy of our own creationfor destroying our fellow destroying ourselves will follow for we are not seperate from eachother. kathryn Audrey and Dan.
Deanna… I cannot begin to tell you what an emotional rollar coaster I went through reading this entire page… so many stories, so many lives… I touched each single one intimately, I broke inside their circle of private pain and became one with them.
Thank You…
Oh, Deepika! So glad! You couldn’t have written nicer words.Yes, the beauty that is out there and in each of us inspires! Humanity is being resuscitated! Altruistic passion has returned!
this is really a wonderful surprise… I came her for one specific topic, only to discover a treasure of value.. such richness, such sensitivity, such humanity… My gratitude beyond words…
best wishes…
I am so pleased you stopped by, Samira! You are now part of our family!
valentyn. hey you are looking older more mature and it suits you well. you are the definition of a man. never forget the boy inside the man and what you have experienced. everything you see and touch is part of you and your journey is compelling and it is revealed in every shot… you are the best…. sam
Yeessss..Valentyn Odnoviun is the best of the best like i have always noted..keep it up!))))
Very special, very dear…astonishingly wise. His work reflects all of this.