Cristo
nos libertó para que vivamos en libertad. Por lo tanto, manténganse firmes y no
se sometan nuevamente al yugo de esclavitud. (Gálatas 5:1)The introduction to the art reflection process included the following explanation to provide background and understanding for the writing aspect:
Asylum seekers often need to prove what is called credible
(reasonable) fear of persecution or torture. You are your own witness, which
means you are the one who must tell the details of your story as the proof that
you have “credible fear” of persecution or torture. This art exercise is to
help organize your thoughts and to practice telling your story. It is very
important that you share all of details which prove you have a credible fear
for your life of persecution or torture. Judges look for discrepancies
(differences) between the different times you are asked to tell your story. It
is very important that your story is (a) true; (b) told in great detail from
beginning to end; (c) remains the exact same story each time you are asked to
tell it with all the facts, dates, people, and details exactly the same. This
art reflection is to help you organize your thoughts to tell your full story.
First: Write your story about why you have credible fear of
persecution or torture. Write down all the important details to support your
story including WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW. Pay careful attention to
detail. Write exactly what happened.
Second: Go back and underline important words which remind you
about the details of your experience. For example, you might underline a date
or the name of a person or a particular location. Write these key words or
phrases on the small piece of paper and set it aside. You will use this list later.
Third: Use tempura paint to make a pretty mono print on top of
your words. (If you do not want to cover up your words, you can make the art on
the other side of the paper or you can get a new piece of paper.) Go to the
table with the paint, rollers, and “Gelli Art” mono printing plates and Pastor
Helen or Pastor Sabrina will show you how to make a mono print. Dry the print
before you go to step four.
Fourth: Take the list of words you underlined and write them on
cut shapes which symbolize your freedom from fear. Glue the shapes with the
words on top of the mono print painted page. You might want to put them in the
best order to help you remember exactly how to (re)tell your story. The goal is
to create a visual that helps you remember all of the details of your story. Use
the many art supplies to decorate your art story.
