Bricks In The Wall

About the “Bricks in the Wall” Project

Educator/Musician Margaret Bernstein created the “Bricks in the Wall“ project in order to provide healing, awareness, and education of domestic violence through music and multi-media. The project consists a music video (co-produced with the Manhattan Theatre Source), audio recording of original songs, and live performances featuring a five-piece pop-rock band. The goal of the “Bricks” project is to educate the general public on the more subtle implications and misunderstood concepts of the problem of domestic violence, including verbal and emotional abuse, while providing means of obtaining help. We accomplish this by providing a domestic violence hotline number on the “Bricks in the Wall” music video and inside the audio recording liner notes as well as by inviting domestic violence shelters and centers to be represented at the concerts, when applicable. The “Bricks in the Wall” music video and a live performance is also integrated into the SAFE through the Arts program, reaching thousands of public middle school students and educators annually. We believe that music is a powerful vehicle in which important messages can be conveyed.
The “Bricks in the Wall” project has a far-reaching audience, as the music video is accessible via You Tube and also shown on various public, local access and cable television stations throughout the United States. It is also available as a DVD included with the “Bricks in the Wall” audio recording (CD) package. The concerts, which take place in community centers, schools, and college campuses, are generally free to the public in order to accommodate the greatest number of people possible. Previous “Bricks in the Wall” concerts have included performances at Hofstra University (Hempstead, New York); the Arts Center of the Capital Region (Troy, New York); All Arts Matter (Greene County, New York); Conkling Hall (Rensselaerville, New York); and at Duanseburg and Margaretville Central School Districts (New York state).

Why the “Bricks of the Wall” project is needed

The community of American Women, which includes women of all ages, races, social-economic status, cultures, levels of education and sexual preference, needs more education and support for dealing with issues surrounding domestic violence. Women need to be educated that domestic violence is not exclusive to violent physical actions directed at the victim, but also may include verbal abuse and other violent physical actions. This is demonstrated in the context of the music video. Furthermore, young women need to become aware of the cycles of violent behavior as well as learn how to build up their self-esteem and gain financial independence. In addition, men also need to become aware of the problems and complexity of domestic violence, as men can also be victims of domestic violence. Furthermore, men need new role models for acquiring new vocabulary for masculine strength that does not involve control of another person. Both women and men who are undergoing abuse in their relationships need support and outlets to help validate their experiences in addition to creative ways in which they can find expression for the many emotions that a domestic violence relationship ignites as well as learning new ways of relating to one another. As the “Bricks in the Wall” album is chronologically the journey of a person deciding to leave an abusive relationship, beginning with the recognition that there is something amiss in “Breath of Air” to getting through the pain in the “Light at the end of the tunnel,” “Bricks” provides comfort while offering encouragement, compassion and hope to survivors and no-survivors alike.

The “Bricks in the Wall” project integrates the following:

Human Needs: It addresses social issues, as the aim of the video, audio recording, and concerts is to bring further awareness of domestic violence to the general public. Specifically, It encompasses the many emotions that a person may endure in his/ her journey to emancipate him/herself from abuse including fear, anger and sadness. In addition, it embraces experiences that people in similar situations may endure including acknowledging the violence, obtaining custody, and taking the courage to make a life change. The Arts: The project directly involves the arts as music and film is the vehicle in which the message of social change is conveyed.
Education: An important component of the project is to educate the general public about behavior that is not usually recognized as domestic violence including verbal abuse and violent physical actions not directed at the victim.

To watch the “Bricks in the Wall” music video, Click Here

To book the "Bricks In The Wall" band contact: booking@gamusic.com

The Bricks In The Wall Band is...
from l. to r. Margaret Bernstein, Marla Bracco, Julien Augier, Sue Taylor, Iris Ornig,

To see pictures and reviews from the  "Bricks In The Wall" album and music video, click here