Art Heals All Wounds
Do you think art can change the world? So do I! We’re at a pivotal moment when scientists, medical practitioners, and creatives are coming together in recognition of the ways that art plays an indispensable role in our well-being, as individuals, communities, and societies. In each episode we hear from artists and creatives who share their inspiration for their work and its wider impact. These conversations about transformative artistic practices show the ways that art can be a catalyst for healing and change.
How do we change the world? One artist at a time.
Art Heals All Wounds
Creating New Narratives for Climate and the Environment
In this episode of Art Heals All Wounds, I’m thinking about the transformative power of storytelling. The stories that we tell ourselves shape our actions and decisions. One of the most powerful ways we can move forward is recognizing when a story no longer serves us. The artists in this season are creating new narratives to combat climate change and protect the environment, helping us move from despair to action.
If you’re an artist creating work about climate and the environment, please get in touch through my website. I’d love to share your work on the show!
00:00 Introduction: Can Art Change the World?
00:47 Personal Stories and Their Impact
01:36 A Childhood Memory at the Refinery
03:22 The Reality of Global Warming
03:57 Artists Telling Better Stories
04:29 Get Involved and Share Your Story
05:04 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
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[00:00:00] Pam Uzzell: Do you believe art can change the world? So do I! On this show, we meet artists whose work is doing just that. Welcome to Art Heals All Wounds. I'm your host, Pam Uzzell.
[00:00:47] Stories are so amazing. We tell ourselves stories that help us make sense of our lives. These stories direct the actions that we'll take in just about any given circumstance. One time, I was talking to my therapist and telling her all the things that I believed have happened to me and why. And she said to me very kindly, that's just a story
[00:01:13] that you've been telling yourself. At one time, it probably served you. But it's not serving you anymore. I could let go of an old, worn out story that was actually doing me harm. Letting go of an old story like that, really, really opens up possibilities.
[00:01:36] I remember as a little girl going with my dad to visit his work at night.
[00:01:42] My dad worked at a refinery and, to me, passing through the security gates felt like we were entering Disneyland. All the pipes and the stills of this refinery were covered in row after row of colored lights. For people who live in big cities, this probably would not have been so impressive, but for me, living in a town of 25, 000 people in South Arkansas, that oil refinery at night might as well have been Times Square.
[00:02:17] The other thing I remember was that even though it looked beautiful, it did not smell very good. I remember making a face and saying, 'Phew, it stinks.' And my dad answered, 'Smells like bacon and eggs to me. 'I had no idea what he meant at the time, but I understand now that he was saying that the refinery provided him with a job that allowed him to afford everything we needed, or wanted. Food, clothing, and shelter, of course; but fun family trips, my education. It all came from this job in the petroleum industry.
[00:02:55] My dad and his sister were the first in their family to go to college, and this job at this refinery was a big deal for him. He went on to become the manager of that and many other refineries, eventually becoming a vice president of an oil company. It was a way to offer his kids opportunities he'd never had. That was the story that made sense for him.
[00:03:22] When I first started thinking about global warming many decades ago, the predictions were pretty scary and also felt kind of far away. The idea that we wouldn't address it in time never occurred to me. That would be crazy, right? We will obviously curb our use of fossil fuels and emissions...was the story that I was telling myself. So why haven't we?
[00:03:50] We need better stories. They're out there. Every day. More and more of them. This season features just a few of the artists telling better stories. These artists help us to see the interconnectedness of the ecosystem that we've evolved in, and ways to de center short term gain in hopes of enabling the survival of the many.
[00:04:14] I don't know about you, but I need to hear storytellers who choose action over despair. I hope you'll listen, and that hearing from these artists confirms the better stories you've been telling yourself.
[00:04:29] If you or someone you know is an artist who creates work around climate and the environment, please get in touch. I'd love to share your work on the show. Just reach out to me through my website, arthealsallwoundspodcast.com.[00:05:00]
[00:05:04] Thanks for joining me on this season focusing on artists telling stories about climate and the environment. In the next episode, I'll be talking to Lydia Millett about her new book, We Loved It All. We'll be talking about some of the good stories we need to hear right now.
[00:05:21] If you have a story to share, just go to my website, arthealsallwoundspodcast.com. You can email me or even leave me a voicemail. If you'd like to support this show, you can also do that through my website by clicking on the link, 'buy me a coffee.'
[00:05:37] Thanks for listening.
[00:05:40] The music you've heard in this podcast is by Ketsa and Lobo Loco.