Art Museums: An Unlikely Community Problem Solver | Andy Maus | TEDxFargo

I’m an award-winning artist that is if

I’m an award-winning artist that is if you count kindergarten drawing contests

you count kindergarten drawing contests

you count kindergarten drawing contests and I think we should I remember that

and I think we should I remember that

and I think we should I remember that competition amongst the other

competition amongst the other

competition amongst the other five-year-olds to be pretty intense but

five-year-olds to be pretty intense but

five-year-olds to be pretty intense but I did it I won in fact I still remember

I did it I won in fact I still remember

I did it I won in fact I still remember the drawing so I made this tree and I

the drawing so I made this tree and I

the drawing so I made this tree and I put a little bird on one of the branches

put a little bird on one of the branches

put a little bird on one of the branches and had musical notes floating in the

and had musical notes floating in the

and had musical notes floating in the air perfect naturescene

air perfect naturescene

air perfect naturescene really groundbreaking stuff seriously

really groundbreaking stuff seriously

really groundbreaking stuff seriously though everyone loved the drawing and

though everyone loved the drawing and

though everyone loved the drawing and but more importantly and this is the

but more importantly and this is the

but more importantly and this is the more important part of course I still

more important part of course I still

more important part of course I still remember the feeling I remember the

remember the feeling I remember the

remember the feeling I remember the feeling of getting the blue ribbon so I

feeling of getting the blue ribbon so I

feeling of getting the blue ribbon so I grew up in a small town in western North

grew up in a small town in western North

grew up in a small town in western North Dakota and I was born with spina bifida

Dakota and I was born with spina bifida

Dakota and I was born with spina bifida so I was somewhat of a knock had

so I was somewhat of a knock had

so I was somewhat of a knock had somewhat of an awkward childhood I know

somewhat of an awkward childhood I know

somewhat of an awkward childhood I know that’s hard to imagine given that very

that’s hard to imagine given that very

that’s hard to imagine given that very assertive looking young man there but I

assertive looking young man there but I

assertive looking young man there but I knew I was good at drawing drawing

knew I was good at drawing drawing

knew I was good at drawing drawing became therapeutic for me and it also

became therapeutic for me and it also

became therapeutic for me and it also gave me confidence so much so that I

gave me confidence so much so that I

gave me confidence so much so that I decided to dedicate my life to art but

decided to dedicate my life to art but

decided to dedicate my life to art but 17 years ago I became a receptionist at

17 years ago I became a receptionist at

17 years ago I became a receptionist at an art museum in Fargo and fast forward

an art museum in Fargo and fast forward

an art museum in Fargo and fast forward to today and I’m now the director and

to today and I’m now the director and

to today and I’m now the director and CEO of that very Museum which continues

CEO of that very Museum which continues

CEO of that very Museum which continues to introduce me to the impact that arts

to introduce me to the impact that arts

to introduce me to the impact that arts organizations can have on individuals

organizations can have on individuals

organizations can have on individuals and communities I think art museums

and communities I think art museums

and communities I think art museums today are primarily known for having

today are primarily known for having

today are primarily known for having things we have challenging modern art we

things we have challenging modern art we

things we have challenging modern art we have intricate sculptures we have

have intricate sculptures we have

have intricate sculptures we have beautiful paintings of flowers rare

beautiful paintings of flowers rare

beautiful paintings of flowers rare artifacts but what can art museums

artifacts but what can art museums

artifacts but what can art museums really do for us and that’s what I’d

really do for us and that’s what I’d

really do for us and that’s what I’d like to talk about more today the late

like to talk about more today the late

like to talk about more today the late Stephen while for many years the deputy

Stephen while for many years the deputy

Stephen while for many years the deputy director of the Hirshhorn Museum of the

director of the Hirshhorn Museum of the

director of the Hirshhorn Museum of the Smithsonian once wrote that art museums

Smithsonian once wrote that art museums

Smithsonian once wrote that art museums in the 21st century will go from being

in the 21st century will go from being

in the 21st century will go from being about something to being for somebody I

about something to being for somebody I

about something to being for somebody I think what he predicted was basically

think what he predicted was basically

think what he predicted was basically our current century purpose lies more in

our current century purpose lies more in

our current century purpose lies more in what we do than in what we

what we do than in what we

what we do than in what we have and I take that a step further I

have and I take that a step further I

have and I take that a step further I think that arts organizations and

think that arts organizations and

think that arts organizations and museums are not only for people I think

museums are not only for people I think

museums are not only for people I think we can actually be human centered

we can actually be human centered

we can actually be human centered problem solvers so I would like to

problem solvers so I would like to

problem solvers so I would like to remove from your mind the arts as this

remove from your mind the arts as this

remove from your mind the arts as this very beautiful decorative flower for the

very beautiful decorative flower for the

very beautiful decorative flower for the sake of this talk replace it with this

sake of this talk replace it with this

sake of this talk replace it with this one of the handiest tools in your

one of the handiest tools in your

one of the handiest tools in your toolbox now in the US and likely in many

toolbox now in the US and likely in many

toolbox now in the US and likely in many places around the world I think people

places around the world I think people

places around the world I think people are more and more existing in binary

are more and more existing in binary

are more and more existing in binary silos I think people are identifying as

silos I think people are identifying as

silos I think people are identifying as black or white or urban or rural or

black or white or urban or rural or

black or white or urban or rural or liberal or conservative all of this I

liberal or conservative all of this I

liberal or conservative all of this I believe leads to a decrease in empathy

believe leads to a decrease in empathy

believe leads to a decrease in empathy and cultural understanding according to

and cultural understanding according to

and cultural understanding according to recent study in fact people identify as

recent study in fact people identify as

recent study in fact people identify as white have a Friendship Circle that is

white have a Friendship Circle that is

white have a Friendship Circle that is over 90 percent white and people who

over 90 percent white and people who

over 90 percent white and people who identify as black have a similar

identify as black have a similar

identify as black have a similar statistic that can be applied to them as

statistic that can be applied to them as

statistic that can be applied to them as well this is the u.s. today

well this is the u.s. today

well this is the u.s. today as exemplified by Chicago and st. Louis

as exemplified by Chicago and st. Louis

as exemplified by Chicago and st. Louis with each dot representing a person of a

with each dot representing a person of a

with each dot representing a person of a different racial identity according to

different racial identity according to

different racial identity according to the narrow and somewhat antiquated

the narrow and somewhat antiquated

the narrow and somewhat antiquated categories of the US Census but I still

categories of the US Census but I still

categories of the US Census but I still think there’s some interesting things to

think there’s some interesting things to

think there’s some interesting things to glean from these these graphics there

glean from these these graphics there

glean from these these graphics there are very few integrated neighborhoods in

are very few integrated neighborhoods in

are very few integrated neighborhoods in the u.s. much less integrated cities or

the u.s. much less integrated cities or

the u.s. much less integrated cities or towns I’d like to talk about empathy for

towns I’d like to talk about empathy for

towns I’d like to talk about empathy for a minute broadly speaking empathy is the

a minute broadly speaking empathy is the

a minute broadly speaking empathy is the ability to genuinely relate to someone

ability to genuinely relate to someone

ability to genuinely relate to someone else’s thoughts experiences actions and

else’s thoughts experiences actions and

else’s thoughts experiences actions and feelings when you carefully experience a

feelings when you carefully experience a

feelings when you carefully experience a good work of art whether it’s a painting

good work of art whether it’s a painting

good work of art whether it’s a painting or film or theater or dance you are

or film or theater or dance you are

or film or theater or dance you are often asked to make a human connection

often asked to make a human connection

often asked to make a human connection to the person or the people who created

to the person or the people who created

to the person or the people who created it to try and understand their

it to try and understand their

it to try and understand their inspiration try and understand their

inspiration try and understand their

inspiration try and understand their intentions and their actions and their

intentions and their actions and their

intentions and their actions and their thoughts and feelings by doing this if

thoughts and feelings by doing this if

thoughts and feelings by doing this if you’re able to make these connections

you’re able to make these connections

you’re able to make these connections through artwork you are practicing

through artwork you are practicing

through artwork you are practicing empathy so it’s no surprise that studies

empathy so it’s no surprise that studies

empathy so it’s no surprise that studies are beginning to find a direct

are beginning to find a direct

are beginning to find a direct relationship

relationship

relationship the two now what happens when there’s a

the two now what happens when there’s a

the two now what happens when there’s a decrease in empathy one of the things

decrease in empathy one of the things

decrease in empathy one of the things that happens is an increase in the

that happens is an increase in the

that happens is an increase in the objectification of people in Ferguson

objectification of people in Ferguson

objectification of people in Ferguson Missouri for example we now know that

Missouri for example we now know that

Missouri for example we now know that police officers have a long history of

police officers have a long history of

police officers have a long history of targeting people of color to devastating

targeting people of color to devastating

targeting people of color to devastating effect

effect

effect conversely seeing police as an

conversely seeing police as an

conversely seeing police as an oppressive system does not reflect the

oppressive system does not reflect the

oppressive system does not reflect the humanity the officers and stripped them

humanity the officers and stripped them

humanity the officers and stripped them of the dignity of the many that serve

of the dignity of the many that serve

of the dignity of the many that serve their communities with honor and this

their communities with honor and this

their communities with honor and this damaged relationship is not a Ferguson

damaged relationship is not a Ferguson

damaged relationship is not a Ferguson only problem interestingly enough part

only problem interestingly enough part

only problem interestingly enough part of the solution may actually lie at the

of the solution may actually lie at the

of the solution may actually lie at the Perez Art Museum Miami where a program

Perez Art Museum Miami where a program

Perez Art Museum Miami where a program exists called art detectives which

exists called art detectives which

exists called art detectives which connects middle-school students with

connects middle-school students with

connects middle-school students with police officers and art educators and

police officers and art educators and

police officers and art educators and provides them with a meaningful shared

provides them with a meaningful shared

provides them with a meaningful shared experience in the schools and at the

experience in the schools and at the

experience in the schools and at the museum but why do this through art as

museum but why do this through art as

museum but why do this through art as one of the program managers says because

one of the program managers says because

one of the program managers says because art is truth-seeking prompted by this

art is truth-seeking prompted by this

art is truth-seeking prompted by this program one of the participants who’s

program one of the participants who’s

program one of the participants who’s now in middle school shared a story when

now in middle school shared a story when

now in middle school shared a story when she was 8 years old and she was riding

she was 8 years old and she was riding

she was 8 years old and she was riding in the backseat with her mother her

in the backseat with her mother her

in the backseat with her mother her mother was driving obviously she was

mother was driving obviously she was

mother was driving obviously she was pulled over by the police

pulled over by the police

pulled over by the police seemingly routine traffic stop the

seemingly routine traffic stop the

seemingly routine traffic stop the police then actually pulled a gun on her

police then actually pulled a gun on her

police then actually pulled a gun on her mother and she felt herself threatened

mother and she felt herself threatened

mother and she felt herself threatened as well this experience made her very I

as well this experience made her very I

as well this experience made her very I think reasonably so afraid of police

think reasonably so afraid of police

think reasonably so afraid of police officers and now she’s in this program

officers and now she’s in this program

officers and now she’s in this program and they’re having this shared

and they’re having this shared

and they’re having this shared experience as equals and so she sees the

experience as equals and so she sees the

experience as equals and so she sees the humanity of the officers and vice versa

humanity of the officers and vice versa

humanity of the officers and vice versa the police officers are having a shared

the police officers are having a shared

the police officers are having a shared experience with community members that

experience with community members that

experience with community members that they are to protect and to serve

they are to protect and to serve

they are to protect and to serve I believe that programs like this can be

I believe that programs like this can be

I believe that programs like this can be a part of community police training

a part of community police training

a part of community police training pretty cool stuff

pretty cool stuff

pretty cool stuff the ability of art museums to help solve

the ability of art museums to help solve

the ability of art museums to help solve problems does not end at the ones that

problems does not end at the ones that

problems does not end at the ones that are human-made we’ve been talking about

are human-made we’ve been talking about

are human-made we’ve been talking about chronic illness today again art museums

chronic illness today again art museums

chronic illness today again art museums like ours here and others around the

like ours here and others around the

like ours here and others around the country are actively developing programs

country are actively developing programs

country are actively developing programs reinforced by science that shows that

reinforced by science that shows that

reinforced by science that shows that the environment that a person is in has

the environment that a person is in has

the environment that a person is in has a positive impact on their ability to

a positive impact on their ability to

a positive impact on their ability to cope or their recovery which makes

cope or their recovery which makes

cope or their recovery which makes perfect sense of course but museums have

perfect sense of course but museums have

perfect sense of course but museums have been late to the game in this but

been late to the game in this but

been late to the game in this but there’s now emerging programs around the

there’s now emerging programs around the

there’s now emerging programs around the country and one of them is at the

country and one of them is at the

country and one of them is at the Honolulu Museum of Art where a very

Honolulu Museum of Art where a very

Honolulu Museum of Art where a very important PTSD program exists called

important PTSD program exists called

important PTSD program exists called warrior eyes on art the goals of the

warrior eyes on art the goals of the

warrior eyes on art the goals of the program are threefold it is to help the

program are threefold it is to help the

program are threefold it is to help the whole if it’s to use art and positivity

whole if it’s to use art and positivity

whole if it’s to use art and positivity to heal it’s to get the soldiers used to

to heal it’s to get the soldiers used to

to heal it’s to get the soldiers used to civilian life and it’s to give them the

civilian life and it’s to give them the

civilian life and it’s to give them the tools necessary to cope with the trauma

tools necessary to cope with the trauma

tools necessary to cope with the trauma that they’ve experienced so many many

that they’ve experienced so many many

that they’ve experienced so many many soldiers experience a dramatic shift

soldiers experience a dramatic shift

soldiers experience a dramatic shift throughout this program which i think is

throughout this program which i think is

throughout this program which i think is pretty great and I want to talk about

pretty great and I want to talk about

pretty great and I want to talk about this painting for a minute I believe

this painting for a minute I believe

this painting for a minute I believe this to be a pretty important painting

this to be a pretty important painting

this to be a pretty important painting you might think as an art museum

you might think as an art museum

you might think as an art museum director it’s it’s about the product but

director it’s it’s about the product but

director it’s it’s about the product but for me I think this is important because

for me I think this is important because

for me I think this is important because of the creative process so at the

of the creative process so at the

of the creative process so at the beginning of one of the sessions the

beginning of one of the sessions the

beginning of one of the sessions the soldier who made this painting painted a

soldier who made this painting painted a

soldier who made this painting painted a disembodied head and on the bottom he

disembodied head and on the bottom he

disembodied head and on the bottom he added some fire and on the top of

added some fire and on the top of

added some fire and on the top of storm-clouds basically the essence of

storm-clouds basically the essence of

storm-clouds basically the essence of turmoil was being described throughout

turmoil was being described throughout

turmoil was being described throughout the creative process it changed

the creative process it changed

the creative process it changed throughout the day prompted by the

throughout the day prompted by the

throughout the day prompted by the instructor with a very simple question

instructor with a very simple question

instructor with a very simple question how can we make this painting more

how can we make this painting more

how can we make this painting more hopeful so we thought about it and he

hopeful so we thought about it and he

hopeful so we thought about it and he eventually he added the crown and then

eventually he added the crown and then

eventually he added the crown and then some simple brushstrokes added some

some simple brushstrokes added some

some simple brushstrokes added some raised hands essentially going from

raised hands essentially going from

raised hands essentially going from despair to optimism as he created which

despair to optimism as he created which

despair to optimism as he created which i think is pretty great

now we saw Chicago and st. Louis here’s

now we saw Chicago and st. Louis here’s North Dakota pretty there are dots in

North Dakota pretty there are dots in

North Dakota pretty there are dots in there I swear

along with its therapeutic therapeutic

along with its therapeutic therapeutic abilities art is an effective connector

abilities art is an effective connector

abilities art is an effective connector of people it connects people to one

of people it connects people to one

of people it connects people to one another and it connects individuals to

another and it connects individuals to

another and it connects individuals to themselves it is also a central element

themselves it is also a central element

themselves it is also a central element to elevating regional economies

to elevating regional economies

to elevating regional economies however our binary existence reveals an

however our binary existence reveals an

however our binary existence reveals an arts access gap where people with more

arts access gap where people with more

arts access gap where people with more resources who often live in cities too

resources who often live in cities too

resources who often live in cities too often have more access to the arts than

often have more access to the arts than

often have more access to the arts than people who live in rural communities or

people who live in rural communities or

people who live in rural communities or rural parts of the world and underserved

rural parts of the world and underserved

rural parts of the world and underserved neighborhoods I think we can do better I

neighborhoods I think we can do better I

neighborhoods I think we can do better I think we can build more inclusive more

think we can build more inclusive more

think we can build more inclusive more creative more empathetic more vibrant

creative more empathetic more vibrant

creative more empathetic more vibrant more entrepreneurial communities that

more entrepreneurial communities that

more entrepreneurial communities that will lead us into the future and I think

will lead us into the future and I think

will lead us into the future and I think we can do it through the Arts recently

we can do it through the Arts recently

we can do it through the Arts recently thanks to support from members and

thanks to support from members and

thanks to support from members and donors our museums in fargo-moorhead

donors our museums in fargo-moorhead

donors our museums in fargo-moorhead have taken the bold step to make our

have taken the bold step to make our

have taken the bold step to make our galleries general admission free doing

galleries general admission free doing

galleries general admission free doing our part as a region and helping close

our part as a region and helping close

our part as a region and helping close this arts access print gap I could go on

this arts access print gap I could go on

this arts access print gap I could go on from here but you get I think the idea I

from here but you get I think the idea I

from here but you get I think the idea I can leave you with one thing I hope it

can leave you with one thing I hope it

can leave you with one thing I hope it is this the arts are not a luxury but

is this the arts are not a luxury but

is this the arts are not a luxury but instead are useful and they exist for

instead are useful and they exist for

instead are useful and they exist for everyone they’re also exactly what the

everyone they’re also exactly what the

everyone they’re also exactly what the world needs more of right now

world needs more of right now

world needs more of right now [Applause]

[Music]

[Music] you