Ball State University is welcoming two renowned experts to campus to discuss the science behind the benefits of art.
The upcoming Fred Meyer Lecture in Cultural Policy and Arts Advocacy features Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, authors of The New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is being held at 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Emens Auditorium. Tickets are available on the Eventbrite website.
Dr. Lara Kuykendall, director of the School of Art and associate professor of art history at Ball State, anticipates the lecture illuminating how the arts can profoundly enhance one’s physical and mental health, foster learning, and build stronger communities.
“Susan and Ivy illustrate, with compelling scientific data and global case studies, how art enriches our lives and communities, making them healthier, more vibrant, and fulfilled. They interpret art in a broad sense, encompassing performance, movement, sensory experiences, and the creation of visual and physical expressions,” Dr. Kuykendall said. “Art is accessible to everyone, inviting participation regardless of skill or discipline. It involves play and imagination, and is essential to our culture. We look forward to welcoming these two experts to our campus to discuss this fascinating phenomenon.”
Topics expected to be covered at the event include:
- The revolutionary field of neuroaesthetics
- Insights from multidisciplinary pioneers like David Byrne, Renée Fleming, and E.O. Wilson
- Compelling stories of how the arts are making a positive impact on daily life
Ms. Magsamen is the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her work focuses on the intersection of brain sciences and the arts, emphasizing how aesthetic experiences can enhance human potential. She is the author of the impact thinking model and co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint project. Ms. Magsamen has developed several social impact programs and products, including Curiosityville and Curiosity Kits, and has published seven books on various topics related to arts and well-being.
Ms. Ross is the vice president of hardware design at Google, where she has led her team to launch a family of consumer hardware products that have won more than 200 global design awards. She has held executive positions at several major companies, including Calvin Klein, Swatch, and Mattel. Ms. Ross is also a renowned artist, with her jewelry work in the permanent collections of 12 international museums. She has received numerous accolades, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant and a spot on Fast Company’s list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business.
Arrangements for the appearance of Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen are being made through Federation Artists.
The School of Art’s Fred Meyer Lecture in Cultural Policy and Arts Advocacy presents Your Brain on Art in partnership with Arts Alive!, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Health, the College of Sciences and Humanities, and the College of Communication, Information, and Media.