Art/Research International (Sep 2024)
From Threads to Frames
Abstract
Senior immigrants hold a wealth of experience and knowledge often unrecognized due to language and cultural barriers. This article promotes a collaborative approach within arts-based research (ABR) that flattens conventional hierarchies, creating a space where voices of participants and researchers are valued and heard. By embracing translation as both a method and metaphor in the co-creative research process, this article amplifies a senior immigrant’s unique response to the COVID-19 pandemic through her creative making. In this collaborative model, ABR actively involves a senior as co-researcher, building research on her local knowledge and insights. Our approach invites a reconsideration of social support strategies for immigrant seniors, advancing public discourse about their role and resilience within the arts education community.
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