Art As Resistance: From Fear to Freedom - The Healing Power of Art Amid Global Uncertainty
I'm lucky. In my life I've had many opportunities to dance, make visual art, dabble in photography, and more. Plus I've made a good living as a musician. A miracle, really. The arts saved my life when I was young and continue to help me stay engaged with and curious about life now.
Still, there's a part of me that, just like the rest of our culture, devalues art and art-making. Especially in this time of global uncertainty and rising authoritarianism, making art of any kind can seem superfluous, inconsequential. I'm not curing cancer or writing protest songs, so, what's the point?
But another part of me knows better. Art is not inconsequential — it's essential, even if the art we're making is solely for ourselves. Whether we're experiencing or creating art, it reminds us of what makes life worth living. Yes, it's critical to push back against those who would destroy our democracy, but it helps to remember what it is that we're fighting and living for.
In a recent meeting of a small mastermind group I belong to, we had a conversation about this very thing that began with the question, "How do we navigate these uncertain times?" The conversation quickly turned to art and its role in our society, and how it can be a powerful act of resistance, healing, and renewal.
From Eli’s Je Suis Wibbly-Wobbly collection
Eli, an artist who creates joyful, life-affirming, colorful work, shared a story about a friend who works in a demanding, high-stress job, finding safe havens for artists who are refugees. At a gallery filled with Eli's exuberant work, her friend arrived depleted—physically, mentally, and emotionally. But as Eli watched her experience the art, her friend's shoulders relaxed, the color came back to her face, and, by the time she left, she was visibly renewed, her energy restored. Eli's story ignited a conversation about the arts that left all of us feeling renewed and inspired. Then Kerstin's eyes lit up. "What if we continued this conversation online?"
So, in June 2025, my friends Kerstin, Eli, and I hosted an interactive salon called: Art As Resistance: From Fear to Freedom — the Healing Power of Art Amid Global Uncertainty. The event featured a heartfelt, interactive conversation where we shared personal stories, explored cutting-edge insights from neuroscience, and offered compelling perspectives on art's profound role in navigating difficult times.
We discussed how creative expression serves not only as activism but as essential self-care, helping us move from fear to freedom, from isolation to connection, from despair to hope.
We were grateful for the openness and vulnerability of our participants, who shared their struggles with anxiety and uncertainty, plus how they've used painting, music-making, dance, and other creative pursuits to support their mental health and well-being. Their comments reinforced what we already knew: that art isn't just a luxury—it's a vital tool for finding strength and resilience in challenging times.
