Seeing like an artist: art, grief, and reconciliation.” | Beth Robinson | TEDxVenetaWomen

I know you guys have been waiting all

I know you guys have been waiting all afternoon to talk about bereavement

afternoon to talk about bereavement

afternoon to talk about bereavement morning so before I begin I really want

morning so before I begin I really want

morning so before I begin I really want you guys to take a moment to think of

you guys to take a moment to think of

you guys to take a moment to think of someone you love with all your heart

through my armor I explore the process

through my armor I explore the process of bereavement by creating collages and

of bereavement by creating collages and

of bereavement by creating collages and book structures this started when I was

book structures this started when I was

book structures this started when I was eight my grandfather who is my very best

eight my grandfather who is my very best

eight my grandfather who is my very best friend died

the adults around me were heartbroken at

the adults around me were heartbroken at his sudden death even in their shock and

his sudden death even in their shock and

his sudden death even in their shock and awkwardness we had the forethought to

awkwardness we had the forethought to

awkwardness we had the forethought to provide me an eight-year-old child with

provide me an eight-year-old child with

provide me an eight-year-old child with glue magazines and scissors I’m going to

glue magazines and scissors I’m going to

glue magazines and scissors I’m going to be fully present in those sober moments

be fully present in those sober moments

be fully present in those sober moments of youthful innocence about that but I

of youthful innocence about that but I

of youthful innocence about that but I refuse to lose my sense of wonder this

refuse to lose my sense of wonder this

refuse to lose my sense of wonder this art practice cultivated are really

art practice cultivated are really

art practice cultivated are really unique outlet about the conflicts that

unique outlet about the conflicts that

unique outlet about the conflicts that change and wasps pong I had no idea how

change and wasps pong I had no idea how

change and wasps pong I had no idea how well these skills in surgery over a

well these skills in surgery over a

well these skills in surgery over a five-year period starting in 2005 my me

five-year period starting in 2005 my me

five-year period starting in 2005 my me mine remaining grandparents my father my

mine remaining grandparents my father my

mine remaining grandparents my father my youngest brother several uncles and my

youngest brother several uncles and my

youngest brother several uncles and my mother died

that heartbreak of course legally start

that heartbreak of course legally start to focus more on bereavement and

to focus more on bereavement and

to focus more on bereavement and bereavement mainly focus on creating

bereavement mainly focus on creating

bereavement mainly focus on creating more artwork and then showing in the

more artwork and then showing in the

more artwork and then showing in the public speaker and sharing it with

public speaker and sharing it with

public speaker and sharing it with people grievers grieving people we’re

people grievers grieving people we’re

people grievers grieving people we’re continually coming up to me instantly do

continually coming up to me instantly do

continually coming up to me instantly do during my art shows confused by trying

during my art shows confused by trying

during my art shows confused by trying to intellectualize there I did their

to intellectualize there I did their

to intellectualize there I did their ideas and then experiences about death

ideas and then experiences about death

ideas and then experiences about death and not finding relief through working

and not finding relief through working

and not finding relief through working with that I began to realize that my

with that I began to realize that my

with that I began to realize that my discomfort was not adapt itself but with

discomfort was not adapt itself but with

discomfort was not adapt itself but with what I started to notice as a grief

what I started to notice as a grief

what I started to notice as a grief avoidant behavior and crucial more grief

avoidant behavior and crucial more grief

avoidant behavior and crucial more grief is the conflict conflict feelings caused

is the conflict conflict feelings caused

is the conflict conflict feelings caused by the end of change in a normal pattern

by the end of change in a normal pattern

by the end of change in a normal pattern it is normal natural

it is normal natural

it is normal natural painful eternal reaction to loss of any

painful eternal reaction to loss of any

painful eternal reaction to loss of any kind while morning is the external

kind while morning is the external

kind while morning is the external expression of that loss many people

expression of that loss many people

expression of that loss many people experience multiple losses over the

experience multiple losses over the

experience multiple losses over the course of a lifetime dad move an illness

course of a lifetime dad move an illness

course of a lifetime dad move an illness or disability a job loss but the one

or disability a job loss but the one

or disability a job loss but the one thing I want you to take away from today

thing I want you to take away from today

thing I want you to take away from today is that mostly it is a loss of some

is that mostly it is a loss of some

is that mostly it is a loss of some aspect of self or identity in 2002 the

aspect of self or identity in 2002 the

aspect of self or identity in 2002 the wall street journal reported that grief

wall street journal reported that grief

wall street journal reported that grief avoidance in the complex it creates

avoidance in the complex it creates

avoidance in the complex it creates costs us companies over 75 billion

costs us companies over 75 billion

costs us companies over 75 billion dollars noticing this lack of

dollars noticing this lack of

dollars noticing this lack of unexpressed brief and how it I trenches

unexpressed brief and how it I trenches

unexpressed brief and how it I trenches conflicts into deeper stalemates have

conflicts into deeper stalemates have

conflicts into deeper stalemates have you had asked what can we learn from

you had asked what can we learn from

you had asked what can we learn from artists about the expression of grief

artists about the expression of grief

artists about the expression of grief and mourning that is different than the

and mourning that is different than the

and mourning that is different than the norm brief and conflict situations

norm brief and conflict situations

norm brief and conflict situations invite creative behavior research shows

invite creative behavior research shows

invite creative behavior research shows that creativity is a choice in operating

that creativity is a choice in operating

that creativity is a choice in operating or process and is spurred on by creating

or process and is spurred on by creating

or process and is spurred on by creating solution

solution

solution also seems like a perfect match tre so

also seems like a perfect match tre so

also seems like a perfect match tre so to research this more rather than an mfa

to research this more rather than an mfa

to research this more rather than an mfa which would in my play and ingenuity I

which would in my play and ingenuity I

which would in my play and ingenuity I decided to take a master’s degree in

decided to take a master’s degree in

decided to take a master’s degree in conflict in dispute resolution at Law

conflict in dispute resolution at Law

conflict in dispute resolution at Law School the uncomfortability for an

School the uncomfortability for an

School the uncomfortability for an artist in a law school I can’t even tell

artist in a law school I can’t even tell

artist in a law school I can’t even tell you you know they would talk about

you you know they would talk about

you you know they would talk about creativity and I would be like wait a

creativity and I would be like wait a

creativity and I would be like wait a minute that’s just a little bit of

minute that’s just a little bit of

minute that’s just a little bit of creativity so they’re very quickly i

creativity so they’re very quickly i

creativity so they’re very quickly i agreed to understand the right to grieve

agreed to understand the right to grieve

agreed to understand the right to grieve in conflict becomes political conflict

in conflict becomes political conflict

in conflict becomes political conflict often involves pressure and anxiety in

often involves pressure and anxiety in

often involves pressure and anxiety in many different ways research shows and

many different ways research shows and

many different ways research shows and acknowledges that memories from tomah

acknowledges that memories from tomah

acknowledges that memories from tomah are distinct they’re not the same as

are distinct they’re not the same as

are distinct they’re not the same as everyday memories so when comas continue

everyday memories so when comas continue

everyday memories so when comas continue over time and then are categorized by

over time and then are categorized by

over time and then are categorized by physical in structural violence and

physical in structural violence and

physical in structural violence and oppression these conflicts become

oppression these conflicts become

oppression these conflicts become attracted generationally the folks that

attracted generationally the folks that

attracted generationally the folks that suffer from this

suffer from this

suffer from this suspended between a past that is long

suspended between a past that is long

suspended between a past that is long for and a future that was once

because of the leg reaches processes in

because of the leg reaches processes in the brain it can be get really difficult

the brain it can be get really difficult

the brain it can be get really difficult to put into words this is where things

to put into words this is where things

to put into words this is where things like ritual in other ways of expression

like ritual in other ways of expression

like ritual in other ways of expression such as art make this dialogue

such as art make this dialogue

such as art make this dialogue manageable social change artists

manageable social change artists

manageable social change artists encourage a visual dialogue with the

encourage a visual dialogue with the

encourage a visual dialogue with the viewer to understand witness and

viewer to understand witness and

viewer to understand witness and reconcile issues there are really strong

reconcile issues there are really strong

reconcile issues there are really strong examples of grief and mourning in the

examples of grief and mourning in the

examples of grief and mourning in the three art movements during and between

three art movements during and between

three art movements during and between the world wars taught us the

the world wars taught us the

the world wars taught us the constructionists and thus erevis so from

constructionists and thus erevis so from

constructionists and thus erevis so from this research and then these newly

this research and then these newly

this research and then these newly learned mediation skills and more

learned mediation skills and more

learned mediation skills and more pragmatic loss pills I began to make

pragmatic loss pills I began to make

pragmatic loss pills I began to make artwork and exercises to sort of

artwork and exercises to sort of

artwork and exercises to sort of visually support reverse you see one of

visually support reverse you see one of

visually support reverse you see one of the kindest actions that you can do for

the kindest actions that you can do for

the kindest actions that you can do for breeders is learn how to be a better

breeders is learn how to be a better

breeders is learn how to be a better companion we’re going to repeat that

companion we’re going to repeat that

companion we’re going to repeat that learn how to

learn how to

learn how to and the best way to start is just

and the best way to start is just

and the best way to start is just quietly be there and listen no advice

quietly be there and listen no advice

quietly be there and listen no advice none of that speeder

none of that speeder

none of that speeder while also understanding that grief is

while also understanding that grief is

while also understanding that grief is not a task to be finished it is the

not a task to be finished it is the

not a task to be finished it is the alteration of your very being and the

alteration of your very being and the

alteration of your very being and the continual creation of a new self for

continual creation of a new self for

continual creation of a new self for some reverse everything ordinary to

some reverse everything ordinary to

some reverse everything ordinary to control of membrane at first is can be

control of membrane at first is can be

control of membrane at first is can be really overwhelming to the senses and

really overwhelming to the senses and

really overwhelming to the senses and then these memories with each recall

then these memories with each recall

then these memories with each recall will change depending on the emotion in

will change depending on the emotion in

will change depending on the emotion in the mood at that part time these

the mood at that part time these

the mood at that part time these feelings can happen with both positive

feelings can happen with both positive

feelings can happen with both positive and negative relationships breathers

and negative relationships breathers

and negative relationships breathers live between two touching circles for

live between two touching circles for

live between two touching circles for the noise and the one after I’m

the noise and the one after I’m

the noise and the one after I’m constantly trying to reconcile between

constantly trying to reconcile between

constantly trying to reconcile between to every loss is unique and individual

to every loss is unique and individual

to every loss is unique and individual therefore the process of grief and

therefore the process of grief and

therefore the process of grief and mourning will also be new research

mourning will also be new research

mourning will also be new research explains there may be styles of

explains there may be styles of

explains there may be styles of breathing four temperaments so far

breathing four temperaments so far

breathing four temperaments so far they’ve identified two intuitive and

they’ve identified two intuitive and

they’ve identified two intuitive and instrumental an intuitive griever is the

instrumental an intuitive griever is the

instrumental an intuitive griever is the folks who will express themselves by

folks who will express themselves by

folks who will express themselves by promoting they have no problem openly

promoting they have no problem openly

promoting they have no problem openly talking about their feelings they also

talking about their feelings they also

talking about their feelings they also will see support

at the other end of the continuum there

at the other end of the continuum there are the instrumental grievers I can’t

are the instrumental grievers I can’t

are the instrumental grievers I can’t imagine who this they will spend more

imagine who this they will spend more

imagine who this they will spend more time thinking rather than feeling

time thinking rather than feeling

time thinking rather than feeling preferring to sort out their problems on

preferring to sort out their problems on

preferring to sort out their problems on their very own often they are interested

their very own often they are interested

their very own often they are interested in what to do with their feelings of

in what to do with their feelings of

in what to do with their feelings of loss rather than talk to anybody but I

loss rather than talk to anybody but I

loss rather than talk to anybody but I want to express to you there really is

want to express to you there really is

want to express to you there really is no wrong way to grieve a larger problem

no wrong way to grieve a larger problem

no wrong way to grieve a larger problem for many rivers is that even though

for many rivers is that even though

for many rivers is that even though brief is normal and natural the vast

brief is normal and natural the vast

brief is normal and natural the vast majority of what we learn in Western

majority of what we learn in Western

majority of what we learn in Western societies not some ideas include three

societies not some ideas include three

societies not some ideas include three strong time will heal don’t feel bad

strong time will heal don’t feel bad

strong time will heal don’t feel bad aren’t you over that by now

some of these things you might earn

some of these things you might earn everything happens for a reason and the

everything happens for a reason and the

everything happens for a reason and the big one right pull up your bootstraps

big one right pull up your bootstraps

big one right pull up your bootstraps and many more right these expressions

and many more right these expressions

and many more right these expressions well back up here for a minute I have a

well back up here for a minute I have a

well back up here for a minute I have a really favorite one that I want to share

really favorite one that I want to share

really favorite one that I want to share with you and client shipped with me

with you and client shipped with me

with you and client shipped with me recently and it was hey forgotten the

recently and it was hey forgotten the

recently and it was hey forgotten the market now after her husband that ok so

market now after her husband that ok so

market now after her husband that ok so these grief avoiding cliches and

these grief avoiding cliches and

these grief avoiding cliches and attitudes cause breeders to be more

attitudes cause breeders to be more

attitudes cause breeders to be more isolated and lost right like pressure

isolated and lost right like pressure

isolated and lost right like pressure with a flame turned out pinned up grief

with a flame turned out pinned up grief

with a flame turned out pinned up grief eventually is flowing out and all sorts

eventually is flowing out and all sorts

eventually is flowing out and all sorts of particular in their ways often

of particular in their ways often

of particular in their ways often resulting in compounding pain examples

resulting in compounding pain examples

resulting in compounding pain examples include deep depression physical illness

include deep depression physical illness

include deep depression physical illness failing relationships addictive

failing relationships addictive

failing relationships addictive behaviors and there’s how would you

behaviors and there’s how would you

behaviors and there’s how would you macro this out a little bit more riots

macro this out a little bit more riots

macro this out a little bit more riots civil

civil

civil war this tunnel vision then transfers

war this tunnel vision then transfers

war this tunnel vision then transfers into a living generational membrane of

into a living generational membrane of

into a living generational membrane of these events forever indebted with grief

these events forever indebted with grief

these events forever indebted with grief Athenians larger armed and traumatic

Athenians larger armed and traumatic

Athenians larger armed and traumatic conflicts right name off of you wouldn’t

conflicts right name off of you wouldn’t

conflicts right name off of you wouldn’t need American internment camps slavery

need American internment camps slavery

need American internment camps slavery Josh wits your Shima Vietnam twin towers

Josh wits your Shima Vietnam twin towers

Josh wits your Shima Vietnam twin towers I wrap Sandy Hook

I wrap Sandy Hook

I wrap Sandy Hook Ferguson sites that not only hold our

Ferguson sites that not only hold our

Ferguson sites that not only hold our attention as points in history

attention as points in history

attention as points in history but also as continual breathing

but also as continual breathing

but also as continual breathing collective then right in the heart I

hope that looking at my artwork allows

hope that looking at my artwork allows others to consider the unspoken and in

others to consider the unspoken and in

others to consider the unspoken and in part brief plays and conflict brief

part brief plays and conflict brief

part brief plays and conflict brief avoidance leaves little room for

avoidance leaves little room for

avoidance leaves little room for compassion through mini peace building

compassion through mini peace building

compassion through mini peace building and the reconciliation of larger social

and the reconciliation of larger social

and the reconciliation of larger social injustice often we choose to remain

injustice often we choose to remain

injustice often we choose to remain stagnant and void in this in-between

stagnant and void in this in-between

stagnant and void in this in-between time adamant embracing life for both its

time adamant embracing life for both its

time adamant embracing life for both its joy and its pain the ability to be

joy and its pain the ability to be

joy and its pain the ability to be uncomfortable opens up human

it is an unreasonable delusion to think

it is an unreasonable delusion to think of death and loss as optional morning

of death and loss as optional morning

of death and loss as optional morning weight loss happens grieve and mourn

weight loss happens grieve and mourn

weight loss happens grieve and mourn there really is no getting around it

there really is no getting around it

there really is no getting around it brief importing me to be recognized as

brief importing me to be recognized as

brief importing me to be recognized as the basic human rights they really are

the basic human rights they really are

the basic human rights they really are and I have to say for me it is

and I have to say for me it is

and I have to say for me it is absolutely perplexing that we avoid

absolutely perplexing that we avoid

absolutely perplexing that we avoid brief in mourning because they truly are

brief in mourning because they truly are

brief in mourning because they truly are our very best tools to relieve