Haz clic aquí para ver perfil de Daniela en Español

Daniela Prieto Bischof is a multimedia artist from Chile volunteering for a second year with ArtCorps. She practices a wide spectrum of disciplines, including sculpture, engraving, drawing, ceramics, photography and a variety of crafts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Playa Ancha in Valparaíso, Chile. Her greatest sources of inspiration are nature and Mayan culture. Daniela believes that art creates ideal conditions for communication and expression, where participants have the space to express themselves, learn about themselves and reflect upon different issues. For Daniela, art speaks for itself and communicates a message, but how that message is interpreted depends upon the viewer. Since visual communication codes are different in each culture, she searches for the points of commonality with other cultures, learning from the similarities as well as the differences.

Previously, Daniela was a volunteer with GreenPeace in Chile for three years. She also directed artistic recycling workshops for children and was a regular participant in the Valparaíso Carnival, creating allegorical floats with animal themes. Working with WCS, Daniela learned that within each person there exists a beautiful universe to discover, and that an affection and appreciation for life can move mountains. At the same time, she discovered that there are different rhythms to life, since in the Guatemalan countryside things work differently and people are more relaxed. In such rural contexts, organizations are an excellent means to reach the local population. Daniela asserts that the best parts of living in the community are the closeness with which the people regard her, the daily contact with nature and, most importantly, working in collaboration with the local organization.

Read Nuestro Diario article about Daniela's environmental education work (in Spanish).

“[I decided to return for a second year with ArtCorps] because I am sure that art achieves positive changes in the development of people and organizations…because I love Guatemala and its people…[and] because I feel happy to go to work and to realize that each moment is unique.”