Why Art? Why Now?: Artistic Practice as a Way of Thinking

During this time when we often feel as if we are on shifting sands, opposing ideological positions are fueling an antagonistic stance towards individuals, communities, and nations who are perceived as “different” or “not like us.” What, then, are the roles of art and artists in this current moment?

How can art provoke a way of thinking through the divisive issues that confront us now when politics and political structures have seemingly fallen short? This panel gathers artists whose practice responds to questions of historical conflict and memory, cultural ignorance and difference, and the complex cultural contexts around environmental safety.