As part of their study of Chile and I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín, 7th Grade Humanities students had the opportunity to meet local artist, Carlos Bautista Biernnay, whose fiber art draws deeply from his experiences growing up under the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile.

Carlos shared stories of his life, his journey to the United States, and the ways that art can carry both personal and collective memory. Students asked thoughtful questions about his creative process, his inspiration, and his life growing up in Chile.

Reflecting on his artistic journey, Carlos told students, “I think my work is successful because I became honest with myself.” He encouraged them to share their own voices with authenticity and courage.

He also spoke about how twenty years under a dictatorship didn’t just last for twenty years — the effects continue to ripple through generations of Chileans as stories of the Disappeared and the dictatorship are passed down.

Carlos’ work is currently on display at the University of Bridgeport’s Schelfhaudt Gallery, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and other galleries around the world. His studio is located in Bridgeport, where he continues to create pieces that weave together art, memory, and resilience.

This visit invited our students to see how history lives not just in books, but in the stories and creative expressions of those who lived it.