Hear the word “community” and what comes to mind is a cloying picture of clasped hands or multihued, smiling children. The word smacks of meaningless, feel-good phrases about commitment. This image of “cuddly community,” as its termed by artist, educator, and activist Christian Nold, is impotent and non-threatening; engaging it involves no real concessions or consequences.”Real communities tend to have many issues both externally and internally,” says Nold. “They don’t tend to follow the corporate image of an Asian, a European, a black person, and an American holding hands, smiling.” Read more