I have had the opportunity to talk to a number of different groups lately about the HighWaterLine project. Other than sharing stories about the experience and the people I met and talking about all of the logistics, I like to engage in a discussion of the role of artist as agent for social change. Here are some roles that I thought the artist should/could take on:
commentator - not merely to editorialize on contemporary issues, but to translate. it is important to go beyond the act of regurgitation and create a work that incites questions and action.
collaborator - work with science & scientists to create works that are approachable, making complex knowledge accessible, and to take this into under-served communities.
witness - to observe the communities and their reactions
storyteller - taking information to the streets and then returning stories and that which was witnessed
catalyst - for change in thought and attitude, instigator for discussion
innovator - restructuring the message and dialogue through artistic acts
community builder - by providing an object or act around which people can rally.
I will see if I can't flesh these out more in the coming weeks.
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