Local Artist: Patty Miranda

Introducing...

SOLIDARITY by Patty Miranda

It has been said many times before that the climate crisis is also a massive inequality crisis. For some communities, such as mine in the Philippines, the negative impacts will be felt sooner, more harshly, and more frequently. We experience 20 tropical cyclones per year on average. The world's strongest typhoon Goni hit the Philippines in 2020. Less than a month later, Typhoon Vamco (locally known as Ulysses) flooded our home in the Philippines a few weeks before Christmas.

In the aftermath, I’ve moved homes four times in 2021. I am now in Bristol, studying health law. St. Pauls is a wonderful joyful and creative community, and I am happy to call it my new home. On my first day in this city, I got a “welcome to Bristol” from Jeff Knight (the best ambassador Bristol could have) right beside Banksy’s ‘Mild, Mild West’ mural. I felt seen. His greeting and hug made me feel a sense of belonging. Since then I’ve met so many interesting people, listened to their stories, and shared delicious meals together in Stokes Croft and the surrounding neighborhoods.

My art has helped me cope. I made this collage, it's called 'solidarity.' It's my reminder that we have the power to build new stories, ones of collective action, liberation, and healing. Also, we have the power to build these stories with each other.

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