Articles by Steven Gilchrist

U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts) publicly acknowledged in his recent autobiography sexual abuse that he suffered when he was an adolescent. Brown’s abuse portrays a childhood of violence from family members, camp counselors, and acquaintances. Brown’s public acknowledgement about his personal life bring continued attention to a societal problem that often goes underreported and silenced. Experts consider sexual assault to be the most underreported violent crime in America. The month of April is recognized as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAM). The purpose of the awareness month is to inform the general public about sexual violence and educate people about sexual violence prevention techniques. The 2011 SAAM campaign theme is “It’s time … to get involved.” According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center website, “The 2011 national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign explores common, everyday behaviors and offers individu...

In January, I saw an excellent play called Ruined by Lynn Nottage at the Boston University Theater. The Pulitzer Prize winning play premiered in New York City in 1999. The play depicts the lives of a group of women who work at a bar/club in a small mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The women struggle with the ongoing social unrest in the country. Rape, violence, and government corruption are part of their daily lives. The acting in the play is brilliant and it makes the viewer think about themes such as gender roles, militarism, poverty, and natural resource exploitation. The DRC has plentiful water systems and forest reserves. Many different animals are protected within this diverse ecosystem. In addition to its wildlife, Congo has abundant natural resources. The country contains about 80% of the world’s coltan reserves, which is used in cell phones, digital cameras, laptop computers, and PlayStations. It is estimated that $1 million worth of coltan per day is e...

On Thursday, March 10, I attended a gallery talk & reception at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery. The art on display was for Ekua Holmes: Pieces of a Dream – A Solo Retrospective Exhibition . Holmes spoke for about fifteen minutes before fielding questions from BHCC students, art enthusiasts, and members of the public. Holmes explained that through this exhibit she seeks to honor her family, friends, and community. Holmes has not spent her entire professional career as an artist. Holmes explained that she used to work for the Massachusetts state welfare department art division. She quit her job there to become a full-time professional artist. As her career has developed, collage has become Holmes’ primary medium. “Most of these [collages] are not quick endeavors,” she said. At the gallery, several of Holmes’ most recent pieces of art were on display. The idea for “Sufficient Grace,” a collage on paper piece, came from a woman Holmes saw at a Legal Sea Foods restaurant....