What is Art as Method?
photo by Danny Peña
Art as Method is a group of BIPOC researchers, story-gatherers and community members that came together to explore ways that we can continue to shift paradigms to align community and ourselves with values-driven practice.
We formed this group with the intention of exploring stories, policy, and somatic practice as a means to uplift cultural work that is long lasting and rooted in reciprocity.
The Committee on Racial Equity (CORE) at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) convened these practitioners to create a mechanism that would responsibly advise large institutions and community members on what it means to incorporate values-driven policy.
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![Bevelyn Ukah headshot]()
Bevelyn Ukah
Director of CORE, Uproot Managing Director
Bevelyn Afor Ukah is a consultant, facilitator, and self-taught mixed media artist, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, within a multicultural Black, Nigerian American family. Her life’s work focuses on exploring cultural connections and fostering equity through art and community engagement.
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![Santos Flores headshot]()
Santos Flores
Writer & Researcher
Santos Flores is an associate researcher, professor, data analyst and cultural educator with an interest in models of conflict transformation and social justice for application in community engagement. He holds a Masters in ‘Peace and Conflict studies’ and a Doctorate in ‘Community and Youth development,’ and currently serves as a Research Scholar at NC State and is the Executive Director of the Terreiro de Arte e Cultura. Santos is experienced as a restorative and cultural educator, conflict coach, community organizer and in somatic transformations.
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![Isabel Lu headshot]()
Isabel Lu
Researcher & Designer
Isabel Lu is a painter and researcher based in Raleigh. Isabel co-developed the data collection protocols for “Art as Method” and co- curated UPROOT community art show. Isabel studied nutritional science as an undergraduate student at Cornell University and then public health and dietetics as a graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill. They were one of the 2023 Emerging Artists-in- Residence at Artspace, where they are now a studio artist.
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![Niesha Douglas headshot]()
Neisha Douglas, Ed.D
Community-Based Research Scholar
Niesha is a community-based Research Scholar for the Center for Environmental and Farming Systems at North Carolina State University studying food systems in rural southeastern North Carolina.
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![Daphne Hines headshot]()
Daphne Hines
Communications Specialist & Consultant
Daphne is a Communications Specialist and Social Advocate with a focus on strategy, digital marketing, community engagement, and amplifying community voices for greater societal equity & wellness.
