Getting to the Heart of the Matter with Christine Destrempes

What makes people care about sustainability? How can art be a motivational force for non-artists? Those were the questions I asked myself when the weight of the environmental crisis became so heavy I could no longer justify staying in the comfort zone of my studio. This talk is about the steps I took to figure out how to engage the public in a way that opened hearts and how to design a framework solid enough so that the participation is inclusive, non-intimidating, fun, and successful. I will discuss and show slides of multiple programs that addressed environmental, social, and gender issues. From water scarcity to civility and plastic waste to identity, Art & Dialogue engaged thousands of people of all ages and skill levels in a contemplative creative process that produced compelling art installations that made a lasting positive impact on participants and viewers.

After learning that millions of people die every day from preventable water-related diseases, painter and printmaker Christine Destrempes left the peace and security of her art studio to start Art for Water, a public-participation arts program to raise awareness of the shrinking availability of clean water. When she was invited to address other social issues, she expanded the program and renamed it Art & Dialogue. Destrempes created eight monumental installations which have engaged thousands of people and were exhibited in a variety of venues nationally including Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, New York Aquarium, University of Idaho, Hines Convention Center, Franklin Pierce University, Keene State University, Peabody Essex Museum, Brattleboro Museum, Montshire Museum, and Plymouth State University.

This event will be hybrid. To receive a Zoom link, please register HERE.

This event is supported by a National Endowment of the Humanities’ Spotlight on Humanities grant for Plymouth State University’s Sustainability Studies program.