Dept of Transformation gathers in NYC to lay Groundwork for things ahead
November 15, 2023
Dear dear friends, loved ones, collaborators,
What a time. Iâd like to invite you to take a deep breath to think of those who have been killed in Gaza, Israel, and the world around over the past six weeks, and those who are dying right now. With the situation in Gaza growing more horrific every day, there are many ways for people in the US to support a ceasefire: by [object Object] representatives, finding actions nearby, donating to humanitarian organizationsâand, throughout, continuing to engage in meaningful dialogue with others, even when itâs challenging.
Amid these crises, I keep asking myself what the role of art can be. The closest Iâve come is that it gathers people togetherâthrough both aesthetic pleasure and frictionâfor communion, conversation, and change.
From now until March 2024, Department of Transformation will be in residence at Canal Projects, a new non-profit in New York City. Our program, entitled Groundwork, represents an opportunity to invite artists, thinkers, therapists, and others to workshop new formats for learning and healing. On a personal level, the residency is a chance for me to reconnect with NYC after the itinerancy of the DđT Spring 2023 Teaching Tour. There will be book groups, mindfulness sessions, shared meals, therapy tutorials, andâof courseâkaraoke.
