Valente Pancho Saenz

Artist and researcher interested in community art practices/research at educational institutions and government agencies. Mindful that community art can have direct benefits in the participants improving their quality of life via the state of well-being and relaxation that comes thru the painting process. According to the outcomes of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)’s research in 2010, community art can overcome the challenges experienced in the social fabric of communities such as racism, classism, violence, gentrification, low performing schools, and drugs through a positive sense of self, empowerment and increase the sense of community (Gewanter and Yenawine, 2018).
Aware that the creative process intrinsic in a community art brings joy, hope, and the desire to live meaningful lives (Taylor and Murphy, 2014). Conscious that community art nurtures collaboration, social cohesion, communication, and stronger communities (Conrad & Sinner, 2015; Taylor & Murphy, 2014; Coutts & Jokela, 2008). Attentive and sensible that community art is not only about making art for art’s sake, but also about pursuing social justice and empowerment for underserved communities (Parker, L., Deyhle, D. & Villenas, S., 1999). Interested in the implementation of Arts-Based Research (ABR) approach, primarily in the use of painting as the method of inquiry, representation, interpretation and dissemination (Leavy, 2015; Kirk, 2014; Hesse-Biber & Leavy, 2006; Sullivan, 2005; McNiff, 1998).