UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology SUMMER 2024 - Flipbook - Page 11
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
seems to agree and partners with her clients, with
the creators she works with, and with the team in
her studio to learn from those she has surrounded
Ross points out that new emotional experiences
herself with as she creates the singular spaces she is
are also transformational and can override negative
renowned for. She shows us what is possible as she
emotional experiences, and that we can make
intentional choices about what we surround ourselves engages with the world around her, pursues new
with and the new experiences we dive into, especially experiences and 昀椀nds enlivening people to have those
experiences with.
since we are only conscious of about 5% of what is
around us. If this is the case, if one of the easiest
And it is interesting to consider the bene昀椀ts of
ways to rewrite our narrative is to embark on new
experiences, to not allow ourselves to be lulled into a Wearstler building a team—a community—around
each project. Ross said that she has read a number of
vacuum of routine, then we could look at our task as
a hero’s journey. By going on extensive or brief hero’s articles recently about connections and communitybuilding happening through making art together.
journeys, we must interact with the world around
She says, “Making art together or experiencing art
us, we must interact with others. We engage with
together—it can be dancing, singing—is an incredible
or create art, thus spurring a revelation and at least
way to make those connections. They have wired
momentary transformation. Then we return with
people’s brains up while they are dancing, and you
new information, new experiences, and the positive
changes we have carried home with us. I imagine that can see what happens. It’s not just a bene昀椀t for the
individual, but it’s collective. They get more in synch
each day for designer Kelly Wearstler, also featured
with each other, which is why, say, when singing in
in this issue, is a hero’s journey. She is constantly
a chorus with others, you feel good afterwards. So
seeking out new experiences, whether it’s quietly
it’s not just mental, it’s biological, physiological.” A
昀椀nding a bookstore aisle she’s never spent time in to
collective aesthetic mindset as a result of creating
read about something she knows nothing about or
with others should come as no surprise since it is only
seeking out makers and artists who enrich her vision
relatively recently (remember again how only 0.1% of
of a project.
our species' existence has been spent indoors) that we
spend so much time on our own.
Wearstler embodies the aesthetic mindset, which,
again, includes curiosity, playful discovery (pure play),
It should be noted that the aesthetic mindset need
exploring with our sensory system (being present),
not include artistic talent. Ross drives home the
and making or beholding the arts. And while
importance of not judging the quality of artistic
engaging with people is not explicitly stated in these
expression: “We’re wired to be creatively expressing
four components, in Your Brain on Art, Magsamen
what’s inside and to get those stories out in whatever
and Ross share that if we go just ten hours without
form and modality.” If we encourage all to put what
human contact, we crave it in the way we crave food
is internal into the world through art, we engage
when hungry, water when thirsty. Magsamen says,
with others and share our stories. This brings to
“Social connection is essential for humanity. We
mind how feature artist Kiki Smith approaches her
are losing it in our transactional world.” Wearstler
to the experience.
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