“We see art as one of our universal languages, having greater impact on us, on many levels, than we generally acknowledge. Art is at the core of the this institute, a dynamic avenue for ancestral wisdom, and cultural container. We must be born for art — its creation and it’s appreciation.,” says Laura Lee.
Today, with the co-authors “Your Brain on Art”, we’ll explore the science of neuro-aesthetics, charting art’s impact on and transformation of our brains and bodies — improving our health, enabling us to flourish, and even build stronger communities.
Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross cite research demonstrating how spending just 45 minutes engaged in an art project can reduce the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level. How just one art experience per month can add ten years to one’ life span. How any of the arts, be it painting, dancing, singing, expressive writing, designing — choose your creative passion — are essential to living an optimal and deeply rewarding life.
They’ll share how science is validating this and more: How playing music builds cognitive skills and enhances learning, How the vibrations of a tuning fork create sound waves to counteract stress. How interactive exhibits can dissolve the boundaries between art and viewers, engaging all of our senses and strengthening memory. That museums can be centers for well-being — now that’s leading edge.
Susan Magsamen is the founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab, at the Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Ivy Ross is an American business executive, jewelry designer, and for the last eight years, vice president of hardware design at Google