Display Featured Image
Drawing and Story by Kamala
Crayon, Marker on Paper
11 x 8.5"
Please scroll down to read the entire commentary and description below.
While in Nepal, Myrna met Jesuit Father Charlie Law who introduced her to the directors of the Shelters For Women who had been forced into prostitution. After meeting these directors and the women, Myrna invited the women to draw with her. This "Drawing and Story by Kamala" is one example from the result of those meetings.
These women, who had never drawn before, proceeded to draw about their trauma and talked about it in front of the other women and girls. It was the first time they could share their experience with each other. They did not want to keep the drawings, but wanted to have Myrna take the drawings home with her to inform the world about what their life was like. For the next five or so years she showed their work and gave talks about the women who drew them.
Kamala explained that her drawing is a message about society and family:
"A ten-year-old child is shown in this picture; she is required to marry a man of 35 to 40. The square around the figure represents the nation of Nepal, the people of the village, and their customs and traditions. The girl is always restricted and kept inside, deprived of everything. From the day of birth, family and society deprive the girl child. She marries and life is still bad."
Before her leadership training at a shelter, Kamala said that she felt powerless. But now she hopes to organize women in the village and further community development.
11 x 8.5"
Please scroll down to read the entire commentary and description below.
While in Nepal, Myrna met Jesuit Father Charlie Law who introduced her to the directors of the Shelters For Women who had been forced into prostitution. After meeting these directors and the women, Myrna invited the women to draw with her. This "Drawing and Story by Kamala" is one example from the result of those meetings.
These women, who had never drawn before, proceeded to draw about their trauma and talked about it in front of the other women and girls. It was the first time they could share their experience with each other. They did not want to keep the drawings, but wanted to have Myrna take the drawings home with her to inform the world about what their life was like. For the next five or so years she showed their work and gave talks about the women who drew them.
Kamala explained that her drawing is a message about society and family:
"A ten-year-old child is shown in this picture; she is required to marry a man of 35 to 40. The square around the figure represents the nation of Nepal, the people of the village, and their customs and traditions. The girl is always restricted and kept inside, deprived of everything. From the day of birth, family and society deprive the girl child. She marries and life is still bad."
Before her leadership training at a shelter, Kamala said that she felt powerless. But now she hopes to organize women in the village and further community development.