Conversation Starter
Conversation Starter
When can family cause a spark?
Family is an everlasting source of material for artists. Whether it be the family that raised them or they created later on, family matters seep into artwork.
Conversation Starter 10
How can history matter in the present?
Using objects, images, or written material from the past, artists create a window into our present. Whether a few days or centuries ago, personal or public, considering prior events and people illuminates how we live and think today.
When is fear friendly?
Why might artists use existing Hollywood genres, like horror, slasher, or murder mystery, to create new narratives? What do these new narratives suggest?
What role does art play in protest?
While some artists may intentionally create works that respond to political circumstances, others may do so by default. Protesting policy, war, or social norms, artists challenge the status quo and give voice to a movement.
What details make a home?
Is a “home” based on a place, people, or objects? Perhaps a combination of them all? Like all people, artists grapple with the definition and memory of home.
What experiences are transcendent?
Since time immemorial, humans have sought out transcendent experiences through numerous methods.
What does history sound like?
The sensations associated with experiencing art does not come from sight alone. Some works of art are just as much about hearing as they are about seeing.
What qualifies being an artist?
Does formal schooling, apprenticeships, or personal passions determine an artist? When does one get to call oneself the honorific?
Can abstract imagery tell a story?
Bold color and whimsical brush strokes can evoke a visceral reaction, even if you’re not quite sure what you’re looking at.
How can art be a tool for civic engagement?
Investigating stories of silenced or marginalized communities, artists have employed their practices as tools for effecting change.