Our community art initiative At the Core: Transforming Trauma Together, led by artist Fabian Debora, combines Touchstones — small pieces of art to carry with you — with mural making to empower individuals and communities to make positive change.
This collaborative project invites us to pull back the layers to address core wounds, core values, and core needs in order to foster lasting transformation. It represents our innermost selves, and the hearts of our communities, coming together to use art to transform trauma.
The central component of At the Core is a mural created by participants at 11 organizations throughout Los Angeles County. This mural was part of a special interactive exhibition in June 2017, and the individual panels now live with each organization that created them to inspire further change in their communities.
However, this initiative reaches far beyond this pilot cohort and exhibition. We invite you, the community at large, to get involved in a variety of ways:
Create Collaborative Art
Whether a mural on a wall, a large piece of butcher paper or artwork on a smaller surface, we encourage you to create art together inspired by what’s at your core and the core of your community. The collaborative process is a way for you to reclaim your voice and true identity, to find a place of inclusion, and to begin transformation that will ripple out into your families and communities.
If you’d like you can download the outline of Fabian’s design, and project and trace it onto the surface on which you’ll be creating.
Create a Mini-Mural
Download coloring pages of all the cohort organizations’ panels. When you complete your creations — on your own or in a group — cut out the panels and tape together to make your own At the Core mini-mural.
Create Touchstones
Through creating Touchstones as a part of At the Core, you are able to carry art with you as a resource for continued healing and transformation.
We welcome you to lead an At the Core Touchstone workshop with a group, connecting deeply with each other as well as the artwork you create. Download simple instructions and supply resources to get started.
Share your Story
When you create At the Core artwork, share with the larger community by uploading to our At the Core Community Gallery.
You can also join our Facebook group to connect with others creating At the Core projects in their communities.
When you create with a group please let us know directly by clicking here. Thank you!
This project created with the support of