Nancy Buchanan is well-known as a committed activist who believes art can change the mind of the observer about political issues. In her recent performance extravaganza, “Freedom Suites,” she attempted to call attention not only to a particular political situation—United States involvement in Central America—but to the issue of personal responsibility for world problems and their solutions.

The piece was commissioned for Los Angeles’ “Explorations II” series, sponsored by the Museum of Contemporary Art, the California Institute of the Arts, and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.