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BSC brings director and documentary to raise awareness of gender-based violence through arts-therapy solutions

Published: Mar 29 2018
BSC brings director and documentary to raise awareness of gender-based violence through arts-therapy solutions - Photo
ArtsQuest 2018 continues as Bismarck State College, in collaboration with the Dakota Film Festival, offers Sophia Cruz’s award-winning documentary “Little Stones.” This powerful film weaves together the personal stories of four women artists from across the world, who dedicate their lives to empowering women and survivors of gender-based violence. “Little Stones” will be shown Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Belle Mehus Auditorium. Director Sophia Kruz will also offer a talk Thursday at noon on campus in Sidney J. Lee Auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public. An open discussion with the director will follow the evening viewing.
 
This 87-minute documentary directed by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Kruz and cinematographer Meena Singh was produced over an 18-month period in Senegal, Kenya, Brazil, Germany, India and the United States to express and help eradicate the atrocities of domestic violence, human trafficking, extreme poverty, and female genital mutilation, through the unique art forms of the four female artists. The film and accompanying education initiative have been designed to raise awareness about global women’s rights issues, and to celebrate creative, entrepreneurial, and arts-therapy based solutions to the most pressing challenges facing women globally.
 
According to Cruz, the film’s title comes from suffragist and women’s rights activist Alice Paul’s 1974 quote, “I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic. Each of us puts in one little stone.”
 
“The sentiment, that we all have a role to play in the global fight for equal rights, to me perfectly encapsulated the work of each artist featured in the documentary, and my own goals for ‘Little Stones,’” Cruz says. “I hope the documentary encourages creative dialogue and expression around issues of global gender-based violence, and that through Driftseed, the 501c3 non-profit organization which Singh and I founded during production, we will continue to grow the mosaic of the women’s movement, stone by stone.”
 
To learn more about BSC ArtsQuest 2018 visit bismarckstate.edu/artsquest.