"When I realized how unconscious spontaneous art work could transform the painter's emotions, I started to wonder if public murals that invoked strong feelings in the viewer could also impact personal and social transformation."
-Susan Mintz-Bello,Ph.D
Founder, Org. for the Arts & Whole Brain Learning
I believe that art can become a healing force for individuals
and for our global culture. Art expresses a language of the
human heart that reconnects us to lost values we
cherish. Presently consumerism and the media influence our
self-esteem and value system, since advertisers have the
funds to propagate their messages in the marketplace.
My doctoral research explored: Can frequent contact
with archetypal are expressed in public murals strengthen
uplifting values in the viewer? Archetypal art reflects
universal human themes represented in images so vital and
meaningful that they evoke memories, emotional responses
in those who encounter the artwork, and an unconscious
resonance with the theme.
Robert Zajonc's exposure hypothesis,
hypothesis postulated that repeated exposure to a stimulus
can intensify one's attitude toward the stimulus and have a
subliminal effect on the viewer. My research confirmed
that a painting which stimulates deep emotions can mobilize
and transform the viewer's thoughts and behaviors toward
the issue portrayed.
If we all encountered public murals each day that mobilized a
mind-body connection and empowering feelingsconnected to
hope, inner peace, self-love, or solidarity with others, would
people of all ages and cultures begin to resonate with these
themes? Would such murals unify and shift their conditioned
mindset to a modern mythology based on peace, trust, and
respect?
There is a vital need to rediscover new archetypal symbolic
images (other than a white dove) to motivate youth, comfort
the elderly, and alleviate anxieties from living with terrorist
bombings, a down turned economy, noise pollution, etc.
As a Whole Brain Learning researcher, I am convinced that
our unconscious influences our conscious mind in many ways.
As a sacred activist, I am committed to discovering and expressing
images that portray poignant murals which enhance inner awareness and honor
the sacredness of life.
"Living Murals" bring
higher values into existence,
higher values into existence,
impacting our lives
in a healing way."
in a healing way."
Please Join our ART FOR PERSONAL & SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION MOVEMENT
on fb: http:// apps.facebook.com/causes/453677?m=18eac145
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