Join us for a community forum on Arts and Activism!

How effective can artist be as activists? Are they the new leaders? Followers? Compilers?

Join us for a panel discussion on how artists use their creativity to participate in and mobilize the peace and justice movement. There will be a Q&A following the speakers.

The panel features:
-Karen Malpede, playwright
-SpiritChild, musician and activist
-Megan Trevino, artist and organizer, Arts in Bushwick

WHERE: The Commons, 388 Atlantic Ave., between Hoyt and Bond St. WHEN: Thursday, June 13, 7:00-9:00 pm Read the rest of this entry »

In the summer of 2011, a large mural of Bradley Manning appeared in the neighborhood. Straddling the nexus between Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the image had “Hero” written above the smiling face of the world’s most famous whistleblower, who had supposedly leaked hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents to Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

Through a bit of digging, I tracked down the artist of the mural, sort of. The artist chooses to be known as bamn, and aside from street art, the only outreach is a flickr account and, finally, an email address.

Bamn agreed to an email interview, which took place over several emails and weeks.

Q: When did you paint the mural? How long did it take?
A: I did this mural early June 2011 with a paint roller. It didn’t take more than thirty minutes. I had to work fast because I didn’t really have permission.

Q: Why did you choose that particular spot for the mural?
bamn: There was a suggestion from a friend who works nearby that something should go on the wall. I didn’t ask for permission, but I figured that if I was questioned my friend could back-up my “story”. What amazes me is that the owners haven’t removed it.

Q: The mural is kind of shocking, given that Manning is the most public figure in a long time to possibly be tried for treason. I was very surprised the first time I saw it. Was this your intention?
A: What’s shocking to me is that whistle-blowing is considered treason. I support Manning and Wikileaks wholeheartedly, but the mural was painted for the public. My only intention is to spark dialogue.

Q: What has been the reaction to the mural? How long until “Traitor” was written over it?
I found this guy on the web who was not a fan.
A: Reactions to the mural have been overwhelmingly positive. Every time I pass that wall I see people posing and taking pictures. Read the rest of this entry »

Who is Bradley Manning? Brooklyn For Peace’s Arts & Culture Committee invited writer, lawyer and activist Chase Madar to WORD bookstore in Greenpoint to explain the truths, myths and lies surrounding the world’s most famous whistleblower, on a cold and snowy Friday, January 25th.

The free event (with food provided by local grocer The Garden) was held in WORD’s basement event space. Madar spoke for thirty minutes about Manning and whistleblowing, sometimes recounting information and observations from his book, The Passion of Bradley Manning, the first book about the whistleblower. Those unfamiliar with the details of Manning’s situation would have learned:
- no military personnel have been harmed or killed because of the leaks.
- Manning’s stated reasons (in the “chat logs” with Adrian Lamo) for the leaks were to spark “worldwide discussion, debates, and reforms.”
- Manning’s personal life was rife with similarities to other “millennials”: he was a smart young person with very few opportunities to build a life and worked odd jobs while living in his car before enlisting, although Madar claimed “patriotism” also played an important factor.

Following Madar’s talk was a Q&A with questions from the youngest in attendence (16) all the way up. Madar answered questions about:
- Manning’s treatment and the treatment of Aaron Swartz – who recently committed suicide while under intense government scrutiny: Madar thought it was all a part of a punitive and crushing penal system.
- what exactly are the leaked documents?: along with the “Collateral Murder” video, they are divided into: the Afghan War Logs and the Iraq War Logs (confidential field reports from the wars), the Guantanamo files, and State Department Cables.
- if he himself had ever been the subject of persecution like being stopped at airport screening after having published The Passion of Bradley Manning: no, he has not.

Madar’s responses to questions can be seen on the We Are Change CT’s youtube channel.

Madar also addressed the idea popular among both self-described conservatives and liberals: that we must prevent war crimes. Madar explained his thinking that whatever one thought of the legality of something like the Haditha massacre in Iraq – whether it was a “war crime” or not – it was wrong. He spoke about how the Pentagon having 15,000 lawyers meant they could make anything legal.

While many in the audience were local Greenpointers, some people travelled from the Bronx to attend, while We Are Change (CT) travelled from Connecticut and interviewed Madar on camera before the event, which can be seen here.

This year BFP’s Arts and culture committee was excited to provide entertainment for UCC East New York Farms Farmer’s Market.

East New York Farms is a project of the United Community Centers in partnership with local residents. The mission of the East New York Farms Project is to organize youth and adults to address food justice in our community by promoting local sustainable agriculture and community-led economic development.

Every Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm at the farmer’s markets you can find the freshest and healthiest foods in East New York. Homegrown fruits and veggies, fish, baked goods, ice cream, coffee, cooked foods, weekly entertainment and more!

We sincerely thank Anya Skidan and Irka Mateo for helping us unite Brooklyn through great music and healthy foods.

We look forward to next years Farmer’s Market!

Those of you who would love to be a part of next year’s performance space at the Market, you can contact us at artists@brooklynpeace.org

Irka Mateo brought her Dominican Afro folk music to the East New York Farms farmer’s market on Saturday, October 20th.

Equipped with a seashell, shaker and other percussion instruments, Irka played songs as old as 500 years, and some about manatees – most of which she collected during extensive research and field recordings in rural parts of the Dominican Republic.