Presented in partnership with the Creative Asian Society (CAS), this signature Freedom Center conversation convenes artists whose work powerfully affirms art as a catalyst for justice, memory, and social transformation. The panel features renowned sculptor Tom Tsuchiya, celebrated for his landmark public artworks and environmental advocacy; Saad Ghosn, artist, curator, and founder of SOS ART, whose decades-long commitment has elevated art as a vehicle for peace and civic engagement; and mandala artist and printmaker Radha Lakshmi, whose community-centered practice explores healing, resilience, and belonging.
The conversation was moderated by Shawnee Turner, the Freedom Center’s VP of Education and Interpretation. Turner brings more than two decades of experience in museum education, interpretation and audience engagement to moderating this panel. Together, the panelists will explore the responsibilities artists hold in moments of social urgency and the ways creative practice can challenge injustice, preserve memory, and foster collective care. Audiences are invited to engage in this compelling discussion and consider how art can help shape a more just, humane and liberated future.
I would like to thank the Asian Society and The Cincinnati Freedom Center for putting the talk together. It is close to my heart. A series of questions was presented to the panel before hand. Here are my answers to those questions that I narrated during the talk.
How does each of you personally define “Art as activism”?
For me, art as activism is the practice of creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and connected. Activism does not always have to be loud or confrontational. It can be an act of care, healing, and belonging. Through mandala-making, printmaking, and community-centered art, I invite people to share stories, honor their experiences, and imagine new possibilities together.
Was there a moment in your life or career when you realized your artistic practice could be a tool for social change?
For me, art as activism is the practice of creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and connected. Activism does not always have to be loud or confrontational. It can Yes. One of the first times I realized the power of challenging injustice was when I fought to attend a co-educational art school in India. My father strongly opposed the idea and did not speak to me for nearly a year. Eventually, he agreed to let me attend if I placed first in the entrance exam. With my mother’s quiet support and encouragement, I studied hard, took the exam, and came in first.
That experience taught me that persistence and courage can create change. It shaped my belief that art can challenge barriers, amplify voices, and open doors for others.
Many artists respond to the world around them. What current issues or histories most shape your work right now?
My work is shaped by themes of belonging, healing, and resilience. As an immigrant woman, cancer survivor, and community artist, I am interested in how people carry memory, culture, and identity through challenges and change. I draw inspiration from the stories of women, elders, and communities whose voices are often overlooked. Through mandalas and participatory art, I create spaces for connection, reflection, and collective care. In a time of division and isolation, my work asks how we can build stronger circles of belonging.
Art, Memory & History
This conversation is happening at the Freedom Center, a space deeply connected to the history of freedom struggles.
How does historical memory influence your work? In what ways can art help preserve stories that traditional historical narratives overlook?
Historical memory is central to my work. I draw from the cultural traditions, rituals, and stories passed down through generations of women in my family, particularly the practice of Kolam and mandala-making. These traditions carry histories that are often preserved through lived experience rather than written records.
Art has the power to preserve stories that traditional historical narratives often overlook—stories of women, immigrants, elders, caregivers, and everyday acts of resilience. By creating participatory and community-based artwork, I invite people to share their memories and experiences, transforming personal stories into collective memory. Art can make visible what has been forgotten, silenced, or excluded, ensuring that these voices remain part of our shared history.
How can artists responsibly engage with histories of trauma or oppression?
For me, responsible engagement is rooted in respect, relationship, and empathy. Art should not exploit trauma; it should foster understanding, preserve memory, and create opportunities for healing and dialogue. The goal is not to tell someone else’s story, but rather to help create a space where those stories can be heard and honored.
Community & Impact
How do you involve communities in your artistic practice, if at all?
One project that showed me the power of art as social change was Friday Orange with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. It was a staggering community effort for an installation that existed for only one day. The project brought together people from many different backgrounds, including musicians, schoolchildren, church groups, and community members across the city.
Together, we created 500 painted prayer flags, each reflecting individual stories, hopes, and identities. The goal was to involve people of different ethnicities and cultures in a shared creative experience. More than an art installation, it became a collective act of participation, connection, and belonging. The experience reinforced my belief that art can bring diverse communities together and create meaningful dialogue across differences.
What does meaningful impact look like for you: awareness, dialogue, policy change, healing, or something else?
For me, meaningful impact includes all of these: awareness, dialogue, healing, and social change. It begins with healing and connection. While awareness and dialogue are important, I am most interested in creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Through participatory art projects, I invite people to share their stories, build relationships, and discover common ground. When people come together to create, barriers begin to dissolve, empathy grows, and a stronger sense of belonging emerges. If my work helps even a few people feel more connected to themselves, to others, or to their community, then it has made a meaningful impact.
Collaboration & Cross-Cultural Dialogue
This panel brings together artists from different backgrounds and disciplines. What can we learn from cross-cultural collaboration in activist art? How can art create spaces for dialogue across communities that may not normally interact?
My collaborations with First Nations artists in Canada and Yolŋu artists in Northern Australia taught me that meaningful cross-cultural work begins with listening and respect. Through art, we can share stories, preserve cultural knowledge, and build relationships across differences. Art creates spaces where people can connect as human beings, fostering dialogue, empathy, and a deeper understanding of one another.
Looking Forward
What role do you think artists will play in shaping the future of social movements? For emerging artists who want their work to contribute to justice or community change, what advice would you offer? If audiences leave today remembering one idea about art and activism, what do you hope it is?
Artists help us imagine new futures and strengthen the human connections that make lasting change possible. My advice to emerging artists is to lead with authenticity, listen deeply, and stay connected to the community. If there is one thing I hope people remember, it is that art is not just something we look at—it is something that can bring us together, heal wounds, and help create a more just and compassionate world.