Art can allow people to work through trauma, fight political injustices, and express feelings that can be difficult to explain. 

For me, art makes me think about my relationships. My relationships with other people, my culture, and the environment. Art can evoke both positive and negative feelings. One of my favorite things we learned on our trip was how artists are not always born with their signature style and how they have to experiment a bit to find who they are as artists and creators. This is similar to how, as people, we evolve as we experiment with new styles, hobbies, and friends. Even the version of myself that I was before attending this program is different from the version that returned home.

I decided to travel to Argentina and participate in the UW Activism Through the Arts program because I wanted to learn more about activism in other countries and experience a new culture. This trip was the first time that I have left North America, and I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming the people of Argentina were to me. My host mother was phenomenal and enhanced my experience by allowing me to become a part of her family. She taught me so much about cultural norms in Argentina and increased my appreciation for everything that this country has to offer. She told me where to find live music, allowed me to try traditional Argentine food, showed me parks I should visit, and taught me a few games that she would play with her children when they were younger. Something else that enhanced my experience in Argentina was the other students in my program. Despite all of us attending the same university, I do not think someone could have compiled a group of students who were more different from one another. However, this difference is what helped unite us. Everyone was so eager to learn from each other and ready to welcome a new friend. I was not the strongest Spanish speaker in the group, and every other student was ready to help me at a moment's notice. I grew to appreciate each of the other student’s lived experiences as I learned more about them and am excited to continue these friendships back in Wisconsin. Each of the students had a unique take on the museums we visited and it was very insightful to discuss our thoughts with each other.

Through participating in this program, I learned to appreciate art in all its forms. At the MALBA museum, there was an exhibit by Víctor Grippo that consisted of potatoes and wires. The Colon Factory showcased beautiful costumes and immense set designs. We learned about printmaking from Florencia Breccia and saw a street performance by Marcelo Estbecorena. The students and I were able to see the famous works of Frida Kahlo, enchanting sculptures, and fascinating architecture. Paintings and music have always captivated my attention, but I learned to appreciate movement and literature as art forms. Viewing art in a variety of fashions has taught me to appreciate a deeper meaning in the everyday world. Artists pour so much time and thought into color choices, location, and size of their art, and it is all a puzzle for the viewer to unravel.

This program also taught me about how a political climate can influence the art that is being created. Learning about Peronism, the Argentine Dictatorship, and modern feminist movements allowed me to see how art transcended and changed through different eras of time. While art often aims to convey a message about current political events, there are often lessons that can be taken from work many years down the line. As a society, it is important to learn from our history to not make mistakes that have previously been made. 

While making this website, I explored some of the main messages I took from some of the art we saw on this trip. I witnessed how art could be both healing and combative in nature. I saw how art allowed people to have a voice, often people who had been set aside by society. I watched people reclaim situations and identities into works of art that promoted growth and progress. Art can allow people to work through trauma, fight political injustices, and express feelings that can be difficult to explain.