Argentina-born artist mixes art with activism

Claudia Bernardi, who arrives next week for three appearances to close the 2009-‘10 Visiting Artist Lecture Series, is a rare combination of artist and human-rights activist. Bernardi is a California-based sculptor, printmaker and installation artist whose work reflects her broad social justice themes. She has had more than 40 solo exhibitions throughout the world. Her activism comes through as an enduring theme in both her art and her life. A native of Argentina, Bernardi grew up seeing the toll of political atrocities. She has been quoted as saying, “You do not have the luxury of choosing to be apolitical in Argentina.” She was part of a forensic anthropology team which returned to Argentina in 1984 to seek evidence of atrocities in human remains. She has since been involved in similar missions to El Salvador, Guatemala and Ethiopia. With this background, Bernardi has designed art-in-community projects for political refugees and torture victims in various parts of Latin America. She’ll deliver talks at three locations: • Wednesday, noon, Eastern Washington University Art Department Auditorium on the Cheney campus. • Wednesday, 7 p.m., Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. • Next Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Spokane Falls Community College, SUB Lounge A/B, 3410 W. Fort George Wright Dr. All talks are free and open to the public.