Since joining the Art of Care initiative, I feel like it’s part of my calling as an artist, and I think that it’s very much needed, specifically now. Personally, going through what I went through for years here, in the United States and experiencing firsthand how the system or someone’s circumstance might really burn them out to a point they would feel like they’re… stripped of their Humanity.
It really started clicking once we started performing the show in front of an audience and having the audience’s responses. I keep talking about how I think we actors specifically, but also artists in general, we live for these kind of moments that don’t happen every day during your work; where your art and reality kind of collide, and you experience an immediate impact, because we believe that theater is impactful, we believe that art is impactful, and we believe that it’s a form of care.
But for the Art of Care, I think what is really unique about it is that it’s one of these experiences that doesn’t happen often for artists, where you can immediately see the impact.
I have zero doubt that The Art of Care is going to turn into a movement. Because every time we would go to an event, right before we opened the show, and even without asking people to share, they would just start sharing about their experience with care, giving care, receiving care. And it made me think that people are craving this, not just specifically in this country, but all over the world, as it’s becoming more and more isolating. This country, for the past year, has become even more and more polarized. You run, you go on through your life, and it’s very demanding, and you don’t have a moment even to stop and reflect. That’s why I like In Your Shoes, which is a methodology developed at The Lab to foster deep listening and is one of the tools that we’re using for the initiative, because it gives you the opportunity to take a moment and breathe and connect and listen and empathize and reflect. I’m excited to see where the Art of Care Initiative goes next, and I’m thrilled to be part of the team as we continue to expand on this work.
