On Saturday February 4th, Greenheart Transforms will be hosting an afternoon of art, film, and dialogue. We will be joined by Erin Babbin and Michael Sullivan of On the Real Film as we delve into their new short film project Transition to Power. Transition to Power is a documentary web-series created as a response to the 2016 United States Presidential Election. It looks through the eyes of artists and creatives to discuss the place of art and dialogue in the socio-political sphere. Each episode of this series features a different artist and how they, as artists, are influenced by the recent election. And this couldn’t come at a more important time.
With the country going through a powerful political shift, a growth in digital technology, and in the face of discontent across the nation, we turn to art, music, and film to give us some semblance of safety and order. As On the Real Film write on their website, “we believe art is proof of our collective humanity and artists have the capacity to reframe our understanding of the world we live in. Throughout history artists have led the way during politically tumultuous times towards greater empathy and clearer perception of the injustices too often inflicted on those most vulnerable in marginalize groups.” What Transition to Power has shown us is that our voice can be heard. And when we come together, we can heal together.
We live in times of great divisiveness in this nation. And this recent election season has given rise to many important questions. Namely, how do we heal the divisiveness that is far too common within our society? What role can the individual play in bringing about harmony and peace in the face of anger and discontent? There are no easy answers or quick fixes in this time of great transformation. We have the technology for social change yet we are surrounded by misinformation. I believe what Transition to Power shows us is that we can find harmony by being honest with ourselves and with others. How do you fight back against misinformation? By being the most beautifully, brutally honest version of yourself you can be. Your expression of honesty is your art, making you the creator of the worldview this country needs. And as artists and creators we need to be mindful of the type of thing we put out there.
There was a time in history when artists used the absurd to fight back against the political drama of the day. Finding its roots in the dada and surrealist art movements, artists were able to reframe reality in such a way that one could entertain while also educating. In the modern day we find this idea in satirical news outlets, such as The Daily Show. Yet, as we have seen from the recent political season, misinformation and “alternative facts” are in abundance to the point that many are uncertain of what is exactly unfolding. The theater of the absurd is now in the hands of the very people it was meant to fight against. It is for this reason that artists, creators, and those that yield the power of change need to be more open and honest about the state of our country and the world.
As Barbara Marx-Hubbard so eloquently put it in her book Conscious Evolution, “What we are seeking is a worldview that will call forth our creative action and direct our immense powers toward life-oriented and evolutionary purposes.” Let us as citizens, artists, and humans use our voices to come together and create this worldview of conscious evolution and peace.
Reserve your spot at this upcoming event here. We hope you join us for this transformative event and share your voice so we can heal together.
Bryan Alvarez is an artist, musician, and spiritual practitioner living in Chicago. He works with Greenheart Transforms on local events each month with different people and groups in the Chicago area to foster personal and global transformation. He is a co-founder of Sweet Aum Chicago and hosts visionary art and music events throughout the year.