What Can Art Do? A Review of Bridging Communities through Socially Engaged Art Edited by Alice Wexler and Vida Sabbaghi

Abstract

My review of Bridging Communities Through Socially Engaged Art (2019), looks at this collection of case-studies and practical examples, mainly from the United States, read by a Northern-European reviewer. The book presents twenty-seven inspiring project examples from artistic practice, art education, art dissemination and art therapy. This review looks at some chapters, representing different sections of the book: Museums and Cultural Institutions in Diverse Communities, Art Pedagogy in Diverse Communities, Critical Race and Gender Perspectives, and DIS/ability Justice and Outsiders. The included chapters of the volume are mainly authored by practicing professionals and offer both concrete descriptions and reflections. The dire situation of charged political and contextual conditions was a sub-text in my reading. As a conclusion, I found this book a rewarding and inspirational experience to be recommended for students and decision-makers.