I vividly remember the first time I truly felt and understood the power that
truly felt and understood the power that
truly felt and understood the power that art has in this world I was unprepared
art has in this world I was unprepared
art has in this world I was unprepared for how that experience would change me
for how that experience would change me
for how that experience would change me change my future as an artist as
change my future as an artist as
change my future as an artist as educator was 2009 in Caracas Venezuela
educator was 2009 in Caracas Venezuela
educator was 2009 in Caracas Venezuela first of many trips in my work with El
first of many trips in my work with El
first of many trips in my work with El Sistema the now very famous program of
Sistema the now very famous program of
Sistema the now very famous program of social of transformation and music
social of transformation and music
social of transformation and music that’s for more than 40 years has
that’s for more than 40 years has
that’s for more than 40 years has dramatically changed the lives of
dramatically changed the lives of
dramatically changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Venezuela’s
hundreds of thousands of Venezuela’s
hundreds of thousands of Venezuela’s most at-risk children and I was
most at-risk children and I was
most at-risk children and I was transfixed by what I saw
transfixed by what I saw
transfixed by what I saw arrghh Astaire’s of six seven eight year
arrghh Astaire’s of six seven eight year
arrghh Astaire’s of six seven eight year old children performing Beethoven
old children performing Beethoven
old children performing Beethoven symphonies in an old gymnasium one of
symphonies in an old gymnasium one of
symphonies in an old gymnasium one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city
the poorest neighborhoods in the city
the poorest neighborhoods in the city and I stood dumbfounded by a massive
and I stood dumbfounded by a massive
and I stood dumbfounded by a massive chorus and orchestra of four-year-olds
chorus and orchestra of four-year-olds
chorus and orchestra of four-year-olds playing instruments some actual
playing instruments some actual
playing instruments some actual instruments some made of cardboard
instruments some made of cardboard
instruments some made of cardboard singing dancing performing these these
singing dancing performing these these
singing dancing performing these these amazing arrangements of Venezuelan
amazing arrangements of Venezuelan
amazing arrangements of Venezuelan traditional folk music and with such
traditional folk music and with such
traditional folk music and with such incredible joy they did this for 3-4
incredible joy they did this for 3-4
incredible joy they did this for 3-4 hours every single day and their lives
hours every single day and their lives
hours every single day and their lives and their communities were transformed
and their communities were transformed
and their communities were transformed by a connection to something bigger
by a connection to something bigger
by a connection to something bigger their aesthetic and emotional perception
their aesthetic and emotional perception
their aesthetic and emotional perception of their world had changed and this kind
of their world had changed and this kind
of their world had changed and this kind of change doesn’t happen through mere
of change doesn’t happen through mere
of change doesn’t happen through mere experiences it happens because of that
experiences it happens because of that
experiences it happens because of that connection to something deeper something
connection to something deeper something
connection to something deeper something that changes at the source level
that changes at the source level
that changes at the source level something that catalyzes a new order a
something that catalyzes a new order a
something that catalyzes a new order a new understanding and that source level
new understanding and that source level
new understanding and that source level in the physical world will call the
in the physical world will call the
in the physical world will call the atomic level so when you change
atomic level so when you change
atomic level so when you change something at the atomic level it’s not
something at the atomic level it’s not
something at the atomic level it’s not just powerful changes everything changes
just powerful changes everything changes
just powerful changes everything changes the nature of the substance itself music
the nature of the substance itself music
the nature of the substance itself music was the
was the
was the powerful catalysts in the lives of those
powerful catalysts in the lives of those
powerful catalysts in the lives of those Venezuelan children a modern example of
Venezuelan children a modern example of
Venezuelan children a modern example of the power that art has to change lives
the power that art has to change lives
the power that art has to change lives and change our world an artist
and change our world an artist
and change our world an artist throughout history has shown us that
throughout history has shown us that
throughout history has shown us that they can use their creations shine light
they can use their creations shine light
they can use their creations shine light on something to refocus perception to
on something to refocus perception to
on something to refocus perception to move hearts and minds from the world of
move hearts and minds from the world of
move hearts and minds from the world of photography we have Dorothea Lange’s
photography we have Dorothea Lange’s
photography we have Dorothea Lange’s famous migrant mother and through this
famous migrant mother and through this
famous migrant mother and through this intimate portrait of devastating poverty
intimate portrait of devastating poverty
intimate portrait of devastating poverty she gave a face to a nation suffering
she gave a face to a nation suffering
she gave a face to a nation suffering from the Great Depression
from the Great Depression
from the Great Depression perhaps the most famous anti-war
perhaps the most famous anti-war
perhaps the most famous anti-war painting in history Pablo Picasso’s
painting in history Pablo Picasso’s
painting in history Pablo Picasso’s massive Guernica he showed the
massive Guernica he showed the
massive Guernica he showed the atrocities of war and the devastating
atrocities of war and the devastating
atrocities of war and the devastating effects on the individual his response
effects on the individual his response
effects on the individual his response to the Nazi bombing small basket owned
to the Nazi bombing small basket owned
to the Nazi bombing small basket owned in the Spanish Civil War and in 1957
in the Spanish Civil War and in 1957
in the Spanish Civil War and in 1957 West Side Story one of the most famous
West Side Story one of the most famous
West Side Story one of the most famous musicals in all of history was the first
musicals in all of history was the first
musicals in all of history was the first to deal with serious issues like race
to deal with serious issues like race
to deal with serious issues like race discrimination immigration right it
discrimination immigration right it
discrimination immigration right it challenged its audiences to confront
challenged its audiences to confront
challenged its audiences to confront their own biases their own humanity and
their own biases their own humanity and
their own biases their own humanity and for a very current example I personally
for a very current example I personally
for a very current example I personally like to look to hip-hop philosopher
like to look to hip-hop philosopher
like to look to hip-hop philosopher Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar and his watershed album to pimp a
and his watershed album to pimp a
and his watershed album to pimp a butterfly which sent shockwaves through
butterfly which sent shockwaves through
butterfly which sent shockwaves through the music industry because he chose to
the music industry because he chose to
the music industry because he chose to take on difficult core political
take on difficult core political
take on difficult core political concepts power racial identity
concepts power racial identity
concepts power racial identity leadership and he brought important
leadership and he brought important
leadership and he brought important heightened attention to the black lives
heightened attention to the black lives
heightened attention to the black lives matter movement he reassured and
matter movement he reassured and
matter movement he reassured and outraged and fearful nation quote we
outraged and fearful nation quote we
outraged and fearful nation quote we gonna be all right do you hear me the
gonna be all right do you hear me the
gonna be all right do you hear me the you filming we’re gonna be all right
you filming we’re gonna be all right
you filming we’re gonna be all right Kendrick does it much better so all of
Kendrick does it much better so all of
Kendrick does it much better so all of the artists in these examples somehow
the artists in these examples somehow
the artists in these examples somehow refocus society’s perception or exposed
refocus society’s perception or exposed
refocus society’s perception or exposed a new dimension of understanding and I
a new dimension of understanding and I
a new dimension of understanding and I was recently reading this really
was recently reading this really
was recently reading this really incredible activist artist in San
incredible activist artist in San
incredible activist artist in San Francisco and she said this way art
Francisco and she said this way art
Francisco and she said this way art helps us identify with one another art
helps us identify with one another art
helps us identify with one another art creates profound empathy and connection
creates profound empathy and connection
creates profound empathy and connection and it does this at our core it does
and it does this at our core it does
and it does this at our core it does this and changes us at the atomic level
this and changes us at the atomic level
this and changes us at the atomic level and for me it’s an artist as a human
and for me it’s an artist as a human
and for me it’s an artist as a human being that’s all inspiring that’s
being that’s all inspiring that’s
being that’s all inspiring that’s incredible isn’t it it’s tragic that’s
incredible isn’t it it’s tragic that’s
incredible isn’t it it’s tragic that’s so often in contemporary society the
so often in contemporary society the
so often in contemporary society the role of art an artist is relegated to
role of art an artist is relegated to
role of art an artist is relegated to the category of extra or in the worst
the category of extra or in the worst
the category of extra or in the worst case scenario non-essential and this is
case scenario non-essential and this is
case scenario non-essential and this is most often done by those in power those
most often done by those in power those
most often done by those in power those who set the agenda those perhaps who
who set the agenda those perhaps who
who set the agenda those perhaps who fear that kind of change the most art
fear that kind of change the most art
fear that kind of change the most art and artists are central to cultural and
and artists are central to cultural and
and artists are central to cultural and social change not some parallel or
social change not some parallel or
social change not some parallel or abstract force art creates change in the
abstract force art creates change in the
abstract force art creates change in the world much like waves are formed in the
world much like waves are formed in the
world much like waves are formed in the ocean and when I mention the word waves
ocean and when I mention the word waves
ocean and when I mention the word waves it’s likely that many of you in the
it’s likely that many of you in the
it’s likely that many of you in the audience the first mental image you got
audience the first mental image you got
audience the first mental image you got is that of breakers that you might see
is that of breakers that you might see
is that of breakers that you might see on the beach like this one but that’s
on the beach like this one but that’s
on the beach like this one but that’s just what you see from something that
just what you see from something that
just what you see from something that was created much earlier deeper because
was created much earlier deeper because
was created much earlier deeper because most waves are created deep in the ocean
most waves are created deep in the ocean
most waves are created deep in the ocean by small slow-moving deliberate changes
by small slow-moving deliberate changes
by small slow-moving deliberate changes in the current that when they rise to
in the current that when they rise to
in the current that when they rise to the surface there’s something you can
the surface there’s something you can
the surface there’s something you can see so when you move a small amount of
see so when you move a small amount of
see so when you move a small amount of water at that deep level you get
water at that deep level you get
water at that deep level you get breakers like this but when you move a
breakers like this but when you move a
breakers like this but when you move a much larger amount of water when you
much larger amount of water when you
much larger amount of water when you move a massive amount of water you get
move a massive amount of water you get
move a massive amount of water you get something much different you get
something much different you get
something much different you get something more powerful and so like
something more powerful and so like
something more powerful and so like waves are formed in the ocean throughout
waves are formed in the ocean throughout
waves are formed in the ocean throughout history artists have changed our world
history artists have changed our world
history artists have changed our world and they’ll continue to do so and man if
and they’ll continue to do so and man if
and they’ll continue to do so and man if we ever needed that kind of change now
history repeats itself better for worse
history repeats itself better for worse and the cycle of joyful and tragic
and the cycle of joyful and tragic
and the cycle of joyful and tragic things that happens to us in our world
things that happens to us in our world
things that happens to us in our world so goes the cycle of artists responding
so goes the cycle of artists responding
so goes the cycle of artists responding to it with their art as well as the
to it with their art as well as the
to it with their art as well as the cycle of society either paying more or
cycle of society either paying more or
cycle of society either paying more or less attention to it consider this what
less attention to it consider this what
less attention to it consider this what if we always paid attention what if the
if we always paid attention what if the
if we always paid attention what if the world was constantly flooded with this
world was constantly flooded with this
world was constantly flooded with this kind of art what if focus and power were
kind of art what if focus and power were
kind of art what if focus and power were central to how we viewed artists in the
central to how we viewed artists in the
central to how we viewed artists in the first place I like to think that if that
first place I like to think that if that
first place I like to think that if that were the case then cruelty the lack of
were the case then cruelty the lack of
were the case then cruelty the lack of empathy that those things that still
empathy that those things that still
empathy that those things that still exist in our world they wouldn’t have a
exist in our world they wouldn’t have a
exist in our world they wouldn’t have a chance the next generation of artists
chance the next generation of artists
chance the next generation of artists has the power to lead this but we as
has the power to lead this but we as
has the power to lead this but we as educators have to do a better job of
educators have to do a better job of
educators have to do a better job of helping them and how we’ve trained
helping them and how we’ve trained
helping them and how we’ve trained artists traditionally has one that’s
artists traditionally has one that’s
artists traditionally has one that’s been focused very inward prioritizing
been focused very inward prioritizing
been focused very inward prioritizing things like the development of technique
things like the development of technique
things like the development of technique study of history of styles study of
study of history of styles study of
study of history of styles study of other artists developing personal
other artists developing personal
other artists developing personal creativity and all these things are
creativity and all these things are
creativity and all these things are super important they’re essential but if
super important they’re essential but if
super important they’re essential but if as educators couldn’t we find a way to
as educators couldn’t we find a way to
as educators couldn’t we find a way to balance priorities to also have our
balance priorities to also have our
balance priorities to also have our young artists from the very beginning
young artists from the very beginning
young artists from the very beginning focused outward outward into the world
focused outward outward into the world
focused outward outward into the world hardwired to be constantly considering
hardwired to be constantly considering
hardwired to be constantly considering the
the
the affecting the power that their art can
affecting the power that their art can
affecting the power that their art can have what if it were central to the
have what if it were central to the
have what if it were central to the experience we make it central to the
experience we make it central to the
experience we make it central to the experience of training artists that
experience of training artists that
experience of training artists that they’re facing outward responding to the
they’re facing outward responding to the
they’re facing outward responding to the world that they’re seeking ways to make
world that they’re seeking ways to make
world that they’re seeking ways to make connections calling out injustice when
connections calling out injustice when
connections calling out injustice when they see it giving a face to cruelty
they see it giving a face to cruelty
they see it giving a face to cruelty then it will stick with them and we’ll
then it will stick with them and we’ll
then it will stick with them and we’ll see more transformative art we’ll see
see more transformative art we’ll see
see more transformative art we’ll see real change I’m convinced that a major
real change I’m convinced that a major
real change I’m convinced that a major tool in doing this is embedding things
tool in doing this is embedding things
tool in doing this is embedding things like service social action and
like service social action and
like service social action and entrepreneurship into the educational
entrepreneurship into the educational
entrepreneurship into the educational experience in an integral way and I feel
experience in an integral way and I feel
experience in an integral way and I feel very fortunate that I worked at two
very fortunate that I worked at two
very fortunate that I worked at two institutions that really get this and
institutions that really get this and
institutions that really get this and they’ve seen great results first here at
they’ve seen great results first here at
they’ve seen great results first here at Berkeley where the concepts of equity
Berkeley where the concepts of equity
Berkeley where the concepts of equity and diversity are not just important
and diversity are not just important
and diversity are not just important topics for discussion
topics for discussion
topics for discussion they are core institutional values that
they are core institutional values that
they are core institutional values that range from top to bottom and my current
range from top to bottom and my current
range from top to bottom and my current institution the University of North
institution the University of North
institution the University of North Carolina School of the Arts deeply
Carolina School of the Arts deeply
Carolina School of the Arts deeply shares these principles at UNC si the
shares these principles at UNC si the
shares these principles at UNC si the idea of service and social action of the
idea of service and social action of the
idea of service and social action of the Arts is one that’s prominently in our
Arts is one that’s prominently in our
Arts is one that’s prominently in our students minds and it’s emerging in our
students minds and it’s emerging in our
students minds and it’s emerging in our curriculum we have this really amazing
curriculum we have this really amazing
curriculum we have this really amazing unique art service program called
unique art service program called
unique art service program called artists core an artist core takes
artists core an artist core takes
artists core an artist core takes accomplished young artists and it places
accomplished young artists and it places
accomplished young artists and it places them with the most high risk/high need
them with the most high risk/high need
them with the most high risk/high need children in our region and it helps them
children in our region and it helps them
children in our region and it helps them connect to their community in some cases
connect to their community in some cases
connect to their community in some cases build a community through music dance
build a community through music dance
build a community through music dance drama through creating art and the
drama through creating art and the
drama through creating art and the buy-in for this program is tremendous
buy-in for this program is tremendous
buy-in for this program is tremendous and that is so cool to see but you know
and that is so cool to see but you know
and that is so cool to see but you know what’s cooler to see the experience the
what’s cooler to see the experience the
what’s cooler to see the experience the effect that that experience has on our
effect that that experience has on our
effect that that experience has on our students that participate in the
students that participate in the
students that participate in the gateways it opens up in their mind and
gateways it opens up in their mind and
gateways it opens up in their mind and for their own artistic impulses one of
for their own artistic impulses one of
for their own artistic impulses one of my favorite examples is one of our
my favorite examples is one of our
my favorite examples is one of our composition students Kendra Harding you
composition students Kendra Harding you
composition students Kendra Harding you can see Kendra there playing with
can see Kendra there playing with
can see Kendra there playing with in refugee children and her lullaby
in refugee children and her lullaby
in refugee children and her lullaby project and the framework for the
project and the framework for the
project and the framework for the project was created by Carnegie Hall but
project was created by Carnegie Hall but
project was created by Carnegie Hall but Kendra’s version she sought to connect
Kendra’s version she sought to connect
Kendra’s version she sought to connect with immigrant Latino women and help
with immigrant Latino women and help
with immigrant Latino women and help them write lullabies for their children
them write lullabies for their children
them write lullabies for their children and she worked with a Latino community
and she worked with a Latino community
and she worked with a Latino community center and she connected with women that
center and she connected with women that
center and she connected with women that were under a tremendous amount of stress
were under a tremendous amount of stress
were under a tremendous amount of stress single mothers teenage mothers some were
single mothers teenage mothers some were
single mothers teenage mothers some were homeless some had been to prison some
homeless some had been to prison some
homeless some had been to prison some had a collection of all those factors
had a collection of all those factors
had a collection of all those factors and she partnered with them to help them
and she partnered with them to help them
and she partnered with them to help them use art to express themselves to express
use art to express themselves to express
use art to express themselves to express their situation and most importantly to
their situation and most importantly to
their situation and most importantly to help them find a new and deeper way to
help them find a new and deeper way to
help them find a new and deeper way to connect to their children a very simple
connect to their children a very simple
connect to their children a very simple concept but one that has broad
concept but one that has broad
concept but one that has broad ramifications and some of the most
ramifications and some of the most
ramifications and some of the most transformative ideas and works of art
transformative ideas and works of art
transformative ideas and works of art share those two characteristics simple
share those two characteristics simple
share those two characteristics simple with broad ramifications I’ve seen the
with broad ramifications I’ve seen the
with broad ramifications I’ve seen the true and raw power of art in this world
true and raw power of art in this world
true and raw power of art in this world and I’ve seen that power and young
and I’ve seen that power and young
and I’ve seen that power and young artists it’s visceral palpable and I
artists it’s visceral palpable and I
artists it’s visceral palpable and I have unwavering faith in those young
have unwavering faith in those young
have unwavering faith in those young artists what they will create and how it
artists what they will create and how it
artists what they will create and how it will help shape our world our world
will help shape our world our world
will help shape our world our world which due to gross indifference greed
which due to gross indifference greed
which due to gross indifference greed ignorance by those who row it runs so
ignorance by those who row it runs so
ignorance by those who row it runs so many of our governments it needs those
many of our governments it needs those
many of our governments it needs those young artists more than ever I’m gonna
young artists more than ever I’m gonna
young artists more than ever I’m gonna leave you with one final thought lately
leave you with one final thought lately
leave you with one final thought lately I find myself reflecting on a quote
I find myself reflecting on a quote
I find myself reflecting on a quote often by the great Bob Dylan and he said
often by the great Bob Dylan and he said
often by the great Bob Dylan and he said when I watched the news I realized that
when I watched the news I realized that
when I watched the news I realized that those who run the world never listen to
those who run the world never listen to
those who run the world never listen to music that’s sink in and then let’s give
music that’s sink in and then let’s give
music that’s sink in and then let’s give them something to listen to
them something to listen to
them something to listen to let’s help young artists give them
let’s help young artists give them
let’s help young artists give them something to see something to experience
something to see something to experience
something to see something to experience something to feel something will make a
something to feel something will make a
something to feel something will make a connection
connection
connection breakthrough to help shape all of our
breakthrough to help shape all of our
breakthrough to help shape all of our atoms for the better thank you
”
Be First to Comment