The Art of
Bringing the Treasure
“This is my invitation to see art as a practice of awakening what’s precious within each of us, a practice of learning about the outer and inner worlds.”
Transformative Pedagogy: A Brief Summary
Sharoll’s approach to education is inseparable from her vision of art as a communal, life-giving act. For her, the creative process is not confined to the studio or the gallery—it is an immersive practice of awakening the “treasure” that resides within each individual. This principle underpins Zera Bolivia, the foundation she established to support the self-empowerment of children and communities often overlooked or marginalized.
At Zera Bolivia, Sharoll harnesses art—whether painting, dance, poetry, or textile work—to spark self-realization and emotional healing in prison facilities, hospitals, and underserved rural areas. She challenges the notion of “resistance” as a reactive stance, instead highlighting presence: the proactive act of creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of dreaming. In her workshops and curricula, art becomes the channel through which participants confront buried traumas, rediscover cultural identity, and envision their potential unbounded by colonial legacies or social stigma.
This transformative pedagogy weaves together:
Ancestral Knowledge & Modern Expressions
Drawing on her Aymara heritage and Jewish spirituality, Sharoll grounds each lesson in communal rituals—like shared storytelling, dance, or hands-on crafting—while bridging them with contemporary educational methods.
Emotional Intelligence & Self-Knowledge
Activities emphasize introspection and empathy; children (and adults) learn to articulate emotions, navigate conflict, and cultivate compassion for themselves and others.
Creative Collaboration
Instead of viewing art as an isolated act, Sharoll involves whole communities. Facilitators, families, and local stakeholders co-create sessions, reinforcing the communal ownership of learning.
Liberation Through Love
True change, she maintains, originates in love—the profound act of caring for one another’s healing and potential. By centering love beyond idealization, her programs transmute pain into empathy, and neglect into mutual support.
Catalyzing Broader Social Impact
The foundation’s success—improving emotional well-being, academic performance, and community cohesion—demonstrates that art-based pedagogy can help dismantle the deep-rooted racial and colonial biases still pervasive in Bolivian society.
Ultimately, Sharoll’s transformative pedagogy underscores that art is not a mere product but a communal experience—one in which each participant steps forward, recognizes their own voice, and contributes to a collective textile of renewal. Through Zera Bolivia and her evolving body of work, Sharoll continues to illustrate that, at its heart, education is both an artistic endeavor and a communal awakening.
