Acknowledging the Continued Impact of Personal Revolutions | Kathryn Cellerini Moore | TEDxSalem

I’d like to say to all of the young

I’d like to say to all of the young innovative our classes good a

innovative our classes good a

innovative our classes good a non-violent action be used against Isis

non-violent action be used against Isis

non-violent action be used against Isis you’ve been a better artful the biggest

you’ve been a better artful the biggest

you’ve been a better artful the biggest scientific discoveries of our time

Dorothy Gale Dorothy Gale is a young

Dorothy Gale Dorothy Gale is a young girl who lives on a farm in the vast

girl who lives on a farm in the vast

girl who lives on a farm in the vast gray dry dusty Kansas landscape you may

gray dry dusty Kansas landscape you may

gray dry dusty Kansas landscape you may have heard of her she’s the one who

have heard of her she’s the one who

have heard of her she’s the one who lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry

lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry

lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and living and working on this farm day

and living and working on this farm day

and living and working on this farm day in and day out this is Dorothy’s world

in and day out this is Dorothy’s world

in and day out this is Dorothy’s world but then one day something crazy happens

but then one day something crazy happens

but then one day something crazy happens to Dorothy a huge tornado roared onto

to Dorothy a huge tornado roared onto

to Dorothy a huge tornado roared onto her farm and it picked up her house off

her farm and it picked up her house off

her farm and it picked up her house off of its foundation and tossed it into the

of its foundation and tossed it into the

of its foundation and tossed it into the air with Dorothy inside of it Dorothy

air with Dorothy inside of it Dorothy

air with Dorothy inside of it Dorothy happened to fall asleep during this uh

happened to fall asleep during this uh

happened to fall asleep during this uh but when she woke up she walked over to

but when she woke up she walked over to

but when she woke up she walked over to the front door and she opened it she

the front door and she opened it she

the front door and she opened it she stepped down out onto something yellow

stepped down out onto something yellow

stepped down out onto something yellow and she looked around and realized that

and she looked around and realized that

and she looked around and realized that she was no longer in great Kansas

she was no longer in great Kansas

she was no longer in great Kansas anymore she was in fact in the most

anymore she was in fact in the most

anymore she was in fact in the most beautiful colorful landscape that she

beautiful colorful landscape that she

beautiful colorful landscape that she had ever seen so how does Dorothy

had ever seen so how does Dorothy

had ever seen so how does Dorothy actually cope with this um some of us

actually cope with this um some of us

actually cope with this um some of us might recall that at first she’s

might recall that at first she’s

might recall that at first she’s bewildered but she also just wants to

bewildered but she also just wants to

bewildered but she also just wants to get the hell out Dorothy wants to go

get the hell out Dorothy wants to go

get the hell out Dorothy wants to go home and be with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry

home and be with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry

home and be with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry again but as Dorothy travels along this

again but as Dorothy travels along this

again but as Dorothy travels along this yellow brick road and a pair of brand

yellow brick road and a pair of brand

yellow brick road and a pair of brand new shoes she begins to make friends

new shoes she begins to make friends

new shoes she begins to make friends lifelong friends she also helps solve

lifelong friends she also helps solve

lifelong friends she also helps solve socio-political issues while she’s in Oz

socio-political issues while she’s in Oz

socio-political issues while she’s in Oz and and she does all of this without

and and she does all of this without

and and she does all of this without ever forgetting her roots where she came

ever forgetting her roots where she came

ever forgetting her roots where she came from the people who loved her most and

from the people who loved her most and

from the people who loved her most and most in the in the tools that they

most in the in the tools that they

most in the in the tools that they taught her Dorothy’s life in Oz was now

taught her Dorothy’s life in Oz was now

taught her Dorothy’s life in Oz was now the foundation that she was building

the foundation that she was building

the foundation that she was building upon I am fascinated by this very idea

upon I am fascinated by this very idea

upon I am fascinated by this very idea my artwork is about the ways in which

my artwork is about the ways in which

my artwork is about the ways in which our formative experiences such as

our formative experiences such as

our formative experiences such as surviving a tornado or going to a new

surviving a tornado or going to a new

surviving a tornado or going to a new country for the first time or

country for the first time or

country for the first time or experiencing the death of a loved one

experiencing the death of a loved one

experiencing the death of a loved one continue to impact our daily lives which

continue to impact our daily lives which

continue to impact our daily lives which can include our behaviors our health and

can include our behaviors our health and

can include our behaviors our health and the way we perceive and interact

the way we perceive and interact

the way we perceive and interact with the world now my approach is to

with the world now my approach is to

with the world now my approach is to take stories from my childhood and make

take stories from my childhood and make

take stories from my childhood and make art out of them and so I build and I

art out of them and so I build and I

art out of them and so I build and I paint and I draw and I perform works of

paint and I draw and I perform works of

paint and I draw and I perform works of art that try to explain why it is I’m

art that try to explain why it is I’m

art that try to explain why it is I’m feeling the way that I’m feeling about a

feeling the way that I’m feeling about a

feeling the way that I’m feeling about a situation and when in my lifetime I may

situation and when in my lifetime I may

situation and when in my lifetime I may have learned to feel this way and how

have learned to feel this way and how

have learned to feel this way and how society prefers I do or do not share

society prefers I do or do not share

society prefers I do or do not share these emotions with you the outside

these emotions with you the outside

these emotions with you the outside world and so I feel a kinship with

world and so I feel a kinship with

world and so I feel a kinship with Dorothy and I have for some time over

Dorothy and I have for some time over

Dorothy and I have for some time over the years my mom saved for me toys and

the years my mom saved for me toys and

the years my mom saved for me toys and photographs and I’m particularly drawn

photographs and I’m particularly drawn

photographs and I’m particularly drawn to surprise surprise the ones that

to surprise surprise the ones that

to surprise surprise the ones that remind me of my love for the movie The

remind me of my love for the movie The

remind me of my love for the movie The Wizard of a US and so I look at these

Wizard of a US and so I look at these

Wizard of a US and so I look at these Polaroid images in these toys and I pull

Polaroid images in these toys and I pull

Polaroid images in these toys and I pull iconography from them which might

iconography from them which might

iconography from them which might include ruby shoes yellow bricks blue

include ruby shoes yellow bricks blue

include ruby shoes yellow bricks blue and white gingham patterns and I infused

and white gingham patterns and I infused

and white gingham patterns and I infused them into the artwork in an effort to

them into the artwork in an effort to

them into the artwork in an effort to share my thoughts and emotions with the

share my thoughts and emotions with the

share my thoughts and emotions with the viewer now the first time that Dorothy

viewer now the first time that Dorothy

viewer now the first time that Dorothy tries to leave oz she’s told that she

tries to leave oz she’s told that she

tries to leave oz she’s told that she needs a pair of magical shoes in fact

needs a pair of magical shoes in fact

needs a pair of magical shoes in fact it’s the shoes she’s been wearing this

it’s the shoes she’s been wearing this

it’s the shoes she’s been wearing this entire time some of us might recall a

entire time some of us might recall a

entire time some of us might recall a beautiful image of judy garland standing

beautiful image of judy garland standing

beautiful image of judy garland standing in a pair of ruby slippers such as you

in a pair of ruby slippers such as you

in a pair of ruby slippers such as you see right now and chanting the words

see right now and chanting the words

see right now and chanting the words there’s no place like home for me in

there’s no place like home for me in

there’s no place like home for me in this instant though it’s the moment when

this instant though it’s the moment when

this instant though it’s the moment when Dorothy realizes she has both the tools

Dorothy realizes she has both the tools

Dorothy realizes she has both the tools she needs and the experience necessary

she needs and the experience necessary

she needs and the experience necessary to achieve her goal which was to go home

to achieve her goal which was to go home

to achieve her goal which was to go home that continues to influence me so now

that continues to influence me so now

that continues to influence me so now I’d like to share a short story of my

I’d like to share a short story of my

I’d like to share a short story of my own with you just over a year ago my mom

own with you just over a year ago my mom

own with you just over a year ago my mom passed away it was unexpected and when

passed away it was unexpected and when

passed away it was unexpected and when we left the hospital I had on my person

we left the hospital I had on my person

we left the hospital I had on my person a backpack full of the clothes that she

a backpack full of the clothes that she

a backpack full of the clothes that she wore to the hospital before she passed

wore to the hospital before she passed

wore to the hospital before she passed away which included a pair of purple

away which included a pair of purple

away which included a pair of purple croc shoes now just not long after this

croc shoes now just not long after this

croc shoes now just not long after this I decided that what I wanted to do was

I decided that what I wanted to do was

I decided that what I wanted to do was transform this humble pair of sandals

transform this humble pair of sandals

transform this humble pair of sandals croc shoes into a pair of shoes that

croc shoes into a pair of shoes that

croc shoes into a pair of shoes that looked

looked

looked worthy of delivering my mom to heaven or

worthy of delivering my mom to heaven or

worthy of delivering my mom to heaven or home as she thought of it and so over

home as she thought of it and so over

home as she thought of it and so over the course of three months I applied one

the course of three months I applied one

the course of three months I applied one piece of glitter at a time to this pair

piece of glitter at a time to this pair

piece of glitter at a time to this pair of shoes until they looked worthy of the

of shoes until they looked worthy of the

of shoes until they looked worthy of the part when I was finished i placed the

part when I was finished i placed the

part when I was finished i placed the shoes on a children’s wagon alongside

shoes on a children’s wagon alongside

shoes on a children’s wagon alongside some yellow bricks and some fabric

some yellow bricks and some fabric

some yellow bricks and some fabric swatches that I’d cut out of the clothes

swatches that I’d cut out of the clothes

swatches that I’d cut out of the clothes that my mom had worn right before she

that my mom had worn right before she

that my mom had worn right before she died and my husband drove us to the

died and my husband drove us to the

died and my husband drove us to the property where I grew up that mom dad

property where I grew up that mom dad

property where I grew up that mom dad and I called home for 19 years and I

and I called home for 19 years and I

and I called home for 19 years and I pulled this wagon around the property in

pulled this wagon around the property in

pulled this wagon around the property in an outfit inspired by Dorothy Gale and I

an outfit inspired by Dorothy Gale and I

an outfit inspired by Dorothy Gale and I began to take those fabric swatches and

began to take those fabric swatches and

began to take those fabric swatches and form them into poppy flowers and I

form them into poppy flowers and I

form them into poppy flowers and I placed them around my person in the

placed them around my person in the

placed them around my person in the grass alongside of me I then picked up

grass alongside of me I then picked up

grass alongside of me I then picked up my mom’s ruby slippers I place them over

my mom’s ruby slippers I place them over

my mom’s ruby slippers I place them over my heart and I laid down and took solace

my heart and I laid down and took solace

my heart and I laid down and took solace in the moment this ritual took place

in the moment this ritual took place

in the moment this ritual took place just a few months after my mom died and

just a few months after my mom died and

just a few months after my mom died and had its core it was my attempt to feel

had its core it was my attempt to feel

had its core it was my attempt to feel spiritually and physically surrounded by

spiritually and physically surrounded by

spiritually and physically surrounded by my mom again and so part of this ritual

my mom again and so part of this ritual

my mom again and so part of this ritual was indeed filmed just what you’re

was indeed filmed just what you’re

was indeed filmed just what you’re seeing right now and then it was later

seeing right now and then it was later

seeing right now and then it was later exhibited in a gallery in a show called

exhibited in a gallery in a show called

exhibited in a gallery in a show called give pause for thought which was a call

give pause for thought which was a call

give pause for thought which was a call to action for the viewer and the film

to action for the viewer and the film

to action for the viewer and the film was exhibited with yellow bricks which

was exhibited with yellow bricks which

was exhibited with yellow bricks which signified my mom’s memories her ruby

signified my mom’s memories her ruby

signified my mom’s memories her ruby shoes and some living materials which

shoes and some living materials which

shoes and some living materials which included native Oregon bleeding hearts

included native Oregon bleeding hearts

included native Oregon bleeding hearts grasses fragrant smelling sweet alyssum

grasses fragrant smelling sweet alyssum

grasses fragrant smelling sweet alyssum and lobelia flowers and it was all

and lobelia flowers and it was all

and lobelia flowers and it was all brought together to share with the

brought together to share with the

brought together to share with the viewer the notion that the transition

viewer the notion that the transition

viewer the notion that the transition from life to death these plants were

from life to death these plants were

from life to death these plants were allowed to die over the course of four

allowed to die over the course of four

allowed to die over the course of four weeks in this gesture for me further

weeks in this gesture for me further

weeks in this gesture for me further illustrated that my mom is no longer

illustrated that my mom is no longer

illustrated that my mom is no longer here on this earth tending to her own

here on this earth tending to her own

here on this earth tending to her own yellow brick road of memories

so what do I mean by that we each

so what do I mean by that we each present a face to the outside world that

present a face to the outside world that

present a face to the outside world that is but the tip of the iceberg and where

is but the tip of the iceberg and where

is but the tip of the iceberg and where each influenced by our past and subtle

each influenced by our past and subtle

each influenced by our past and subtle or more obvious ways with each new

or more obvious ways with each new

or more obvious ways with each new challenge and memory we place an

challenge and memory we place an

challenge and memory we place an individual yellow brick in our yellow

individual yellow brick in our yellow

individual yellow brick in our yellow brick roads and this constant work of

brick roads and this constant work of

brick roads and this constant work of becoming an evolving and building as

becoming an evolving and building as

becoming an evolving and building as human beings requires us to learn new

human beings requires us to learn new

human beings requires us to learn new tools for coping because when we don’t

tools for coping because when we don’t

tools for coping because when we don’t have these tools for coping we can fall

have these tools for coping we can fall

have these tools for coping we can fall prey and victim to our own L unhealthy

prey and victim to our own L unhealthy

prey and victim to our own L unhealthy behaviors and sadly this is something

behaviors and sadly this is something

behaviors and sadly this is something that happened to both of my parents and

so switching gears for just a moment

so switching gears for just a moment wheelbarrows what about them there’s a

wheelbarrows what about them there’s a

wheelbarrows what about them there’s a bunch of them so wheelbarrows in my work

bunch of them so wheelbarrows in my work

bunch of them so wheelbarrows in my work then signify the hard work that it takes

then signify the hard work that it takes

then signify the hard work that it takes for each of us to build and maintain our

for each of us to build and maintain our

for each of us to build and maintain our yellow brick roads as we pave our ways

yellow brick roads as we pave our ways

yellow brick roads as we pave our ways through life in this exhibition in this

through life in this exhibition in this

through life in this exhibition in this instance there were two wheelbarrows

instance there were two wheelbarrows

instance there were two wheelbarrows this is give pause for thought when a

this is give pause for thought when a

this is give pause for thought when a small one is large one has yellow bricks

small one is large one has yellow bricks

small one is large one has yellow bricks in it one has grass in it so knowing the

in it one has grass in it so knowing the

in it one has grass in it so knowing the context of this artwork you might be

context of this artwork you might be

context of this artwork you might be thinking well maybe it’s a

thinking well maybe it’s a

thinking well maybe it’s a mother-daughter portrait maybe it’s the

mother-daughter portrait maybe it’s the

mother-daughter portrait maybe it’s the combined efforts of family members to

combined efforts of family members to

combined efforts of family members to help a struggling loved one for me the

help a struggling loved one for me the

help a struggling loved one for me the artwork is always open to interpretation

artwork is always open to interpretation

artwork is always open to interpretation but it was in this moment in this

but it was in this moment in this

but it was in this moment in this instance that I realized that

instance that I realized that

instance that I realized that wheelbarrows don’t just signify hard

wheelbarrows don’t just signify hard

wheelbarrows don’t just signify hard work they began to personify my

work they began to personify my

work they began to personify my individual family members and so this

individual family members and so this

individual family members and so this TEDx installation in fact is a family

TEDx installation in fact is a family

TEDx installation in fact is a family portrait of sorts the wheelbarrows that

portrait of sorts the wheelbarrows that

portrait of sorts the wheelbarrows that you see are painted with colors that are

you see are painted with colors that are

you see are painted with colors that are inspired by Flamel coats that my mom dad

inspired by Flamel coats that my mom dad

inspired by Flamel coats that my mom dad and I wore while we did chores together

and I wore while we did chores together

and I wore while we did chores together out on the farm and I’d like to take a

out on the farm and I’d like to take a

out on the farm and I’d like to take a moment to tell you that even though my

moment to tell you that even though my

moment to tell you that even though my parents didn’t always have the tools or

parents didn’t always have the tools or

parents didn’t always have the tools or the coping skills that they needed they

the coping skills that they needed they

the coping skills that they needed they were two of the most wonderful loving

were two of the most wonderful loving

were two of the most wonderful loving hard-working people I’ve ever met and

hard-working people I’ve ever met and

hard-working people I’ve ever met and it’s because of their efforts that I got

it’s because of their efforts that I got

it’s because of their efforts that I got to grow up and that we lived on a

to grow up and that we lived on a

to grow up and that we lived on a beautiful farm in rural

beautiful farm in rural

beautiful farm in rural Oregon it’s because of their conviction

Oregon it’s because of their conviction

Oregon it’s because of their conviction and guidance that I was able to develop

and guidance that I was able to develop

and guidance that I was able to develop the tools that I needed to leave the

the tools that I needed to leave the

the tools that I needed to leave the farm like Dorothy and explore the world

farm like Dorothy and explore the world

farm like Dorothy and explore the world in my own unique way now before I left

in my own unique way now before I left

in my own unique way now before I left mom and dad taught me to love big and

mom and dad taught me to love big and

mom and dad taught me to love big and think first and fight hard for what you

think first and fight hard for what you

think first and fight hard for what you believe in they taught me that all the

believe in they taught me that all the

believe in they taught me that all the hard work all the blood poured the tears

hard work all the blood poured the tears

hard work all the blood poured the tears shed the first try is the second tries

shed the first try is the second tries

shed the first try is the second tries the failures the successes all the do

the failures the successes all the do

the failures the successes all the do overs that none of us ever want to tell

overs that none of us ever want to tell

overs that none of us ever want to tell anybody about all of this hard work and

anybody about all of this hard work and

anybody about all of this hard work and effort is worth it because it leads us

effort is worth it because it leads us

effort is worth it because it leads us to those aha moments when the way we

to those aha moments when the way we

to those aha moments when the way we perceive and interact with the world is

perceive and interact with the world is

perceive and interact with the world is forever changed they lead us to those

forever changed they lead us to those

forever changed they lead us to those moments when we open the door with

moments when we open the door with

moments when we open the door with Kansas that are back in Oz in front of

Kansas that are back in Oz in front of

Kansas that are back in Oz in front of us these are just a few ways in which my

us these are just a few ways in which my

us these are just a few ways in which my childhood continues to influence my

childhood continues to influence my

childhood continues to influence my adult life but truly for each of us the

adult life but truly for each of us the

adult life but truly for each of us the tools that we were given as kids

tools that we were given as kids

tools that we were given as kids continue to influence their impact the

continue to influence their impact the

continue to influence their impact the choices we make as adults and the

choices we make as adults and the

choices we make as adults and the choices we make as adults they affect

choices we make as adults they affect

choices we make as adults they affect our relationships they affect our

our relationships they affect our

our relationships they affect our families our communities our national

families our communities our national

families our communities our national and international politics and future

and international politics and future

and international politics and future generations working hard and meeting

generations working hard and meeting

generations working hard and meeting challenges within with an open mind and

challenges within with an open mind and

challenges within with an open mind and actively improving ourselves these are

actively improving ourselves these are

actively improving ourselves these are ways in which we can improve our world

ways in which we can improve our world

ways in which we can improve our world and so this installation that you see

and so this installation that you see

and so this installation that you see this TEDx installation symbolizes the

this TEDx installation symbolizes the

this TEDx installation symbolizes the ruptures that can take place in our

ruptures that can take place in our

ruptures that can take place in our daily lives from which we have the

daily lives from which we have the

daily lives from which we have the opportunity to learn grow and move

opportunity to learn grow and move

opportunity to learn grow and move forward with new tools in hand it pays

forward with new tools in hand it pays

forward with new tools in hand it pays homage to our complex emotions and

homage to our complex emotions and

homage to our complex emotions and resoluteness as fellow human beings to

resoluteness as fellow human beings to

resoluteness as fellow human beings to create revolutions within our personal

create revolutions within our personal

create revolutions within our personal lives but then echo and create the

lives but then echo and create the

lives but then echo and create the foundation for revolutions within our

foundation for revolutions within our

foundation for revolutions within our families our communities and beyond

families our communities and beyond

families our communities and beyond thank you

thank you

thank you you