October 6, 2022 • 21 mins
Lisa and Lauren catch up with Deane Bowers again to get an update about the Together While Apart Project and the fundraising campaign to benefit health and wellness for nurses that sprung from it. Deane has found herself diving deep into and out of her own fears and is using art as a catalyst for positive change in herself and the community. All of her current projects can be found on her website: https://deanevbowersart.com/
Learn more about the Take an Art Break Movement on the Art is Moving website here.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Yay.
The meeting is here.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Okay,
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Awesome.
We're Hi everyone.
Hey,
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Hey, we're here.
Movies podcast, Lauren.
We're really, really excited.
Um, we have a guest who withbefore excited.
And, um, Dean, why don't youkinda reintroduce yourself to
our, our
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Audience?
I would love to.
Hi everybody.
My name is Dean Bowers.
I am an artist, um, out and Ilive outside of Charleston,
South Carolina.
Um, I was on the podcast thistime last year telling everybody
about a project I did during thepandemic with 18 other artists
from nine states called TheTogether While Apart Project.
(00:50):
And so I just wanted to bringeverybody up to date on that
project and how it is, um, spura few more or sparked a few more
projects that I'm working on.
So, um,
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, so, um, just, you know, we obviously are in
conversation with you all thetime because you're one of our
buddies and an art advocate Oh.
Just like us.
So we like to stay connected andsee what you're up to.
Um, and yeah, like you said, youhave, uh, a bunch of other
projects going on.
Uh, this project even sparked afundraising campaign.
Yeah.
(01:25):
Um, something you just neverthought you would get yourself
into, but you did, which wethink is amazing and awesome.
And so the question we came upwith, uh, for you today is what
happens when you believe inyourself, You know, no matter
what, let's start there and just, um, you know, cuz I think
that's a really importantquestion to, for everyone to ask
(01:46):
themselves.
Um, and I think artists tend tohave to really almost fight to
believe in themselves and remindthemselves of that.
So let's kinda talk about itfrom that, uh, angle and, and,
um, yeah.
So what does happen when youbelieve in yourself, Dean,
Speaker 3 (02:01):
It's amazing.
And you realize that there's nota gatekeeper and that a lot of
times you are your, you are yourown worst enemy holding you
back.
And what I found is I had to getreally quiet and figure out why
I was afraid to do things andwhat would happen if I switched.
(02:22):
I can't, I don't know how.
I'm too scared with why the hecknot.
And so I did that and it tookgetting quiet and taking a lot
of time away from social mediaand not worrying about followers
or algorithms or web sales orany of that.
And just really concentrating onwhat personally, personally
(02:47):
lights me up as an artist andwhere I feel the most alive.
Um, and then I thought tomyself, what would I wanna tell
myself five years ago if I werein this position?
And what, how will I wanna lookback in five years and see
myself?
Will I be so proud?
(03:08):
Or will I be like, God, I wish Ihad taken that chance.
Um, for me, I'm not getting anyyounger and I think with age
comes a lot of wisdom andexperience and a lot of like,
why not?
Go for it.
I'm not getting any younger andnobody's gonna present me an
opportunity on a golden platterif I wanna make it happen, I've
(03:31):
gotta do it myself.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Wow.
So, uh, yeah, dive into the, ifyou have any specific fears that
you had and how you,
Speaker 3 (03:42):
I think it's the fear that we all have that we're not
enough.
That what is somebody gonnathink is just that, that
terrible criticism or that, um,terrible voice inside of our
head.
And to be honest, most peopleare so doing their own thing in
their own lane.
They don't really think twice.
(04:02):
It's, uh, it's us being our ownworst enemies.
And I found that with myself.
I, I, um, can be my own worstenemy, but I also can be my own
best cheerleader.
And so I had to do a lot of soulsearching and a lot of work and,
um, figuring out why that fearwas my, um, default mechanism
(04:25):
instead of Let's go for it,let's rock this and inspire.
And, um, I just, I, I don'tknow.
I just, I got to a point that Iwas sick of standing on the
sidelines and I wanted to dosomething that was bigger than
myself and bigger than my ownartwork.
And I wanted to get off thehamster wheel of social media
(04:48):
and seeking, um, approval fromoutside sources when it really
just matters.
You know, what I think at theend of the day.
So.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So you've been through some huge transformation
with this project?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I really have.
I really have.
And I hope that it's been atrickle down to the other artist
involved because I feel likewhen we get lit up, then we pass
that spark on and other peoplearound us are like, I want what
she has.
And, um, I, I just think it'ssuch a gift not only to
(05:24):
ourselves, but the people wecome in contact with because we
just breed positivity andinspiration and, um, support.
So, um, I I just can't recommendit enough.
Get off social media forapproval.
That's not where you're gonnafind it.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah.
Okay.
So update us on this, um,together wall apart project and,
and sort of the, uh, web itcreated and the tangents it went
on and stuff.
Let us know.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I love that the web it created.
So this time last year when Iwas speaking with you all, it
had started traveling around,um, to various hospitals and
museums on a 10 month temporaryexhibition.
Um, it was a piece that wasthree feet by four feet and it
was made up of 35 cardboardsquare.
(06:18):
So it all started with a, acardboard square.
Um, that 18 artists besidesmyself, um, created.
And, um, during the process ofit being on temporary
exhibition, I was also goingthrough submission processes
with hospitals about permanentacquisition.
(06:40):
And there was one, um, hospitalin particular.
I just hit it off with the artcurator.
Um, and we had such a positive,um, relationship and she saw
beyond just the artwork, she sawthe spirit and that's what I
really wanted.
Um, and so long story short, um,they decided they really wanted
(07:03):
the artwork, They wanted it thatday, but they were willing to
honor the commitment I'd alreadymade in the temporary
exhibitions.
And we set a date for June, um,for me to bring it to them.
And it was installed.
Um, and that was at theUniversity of Virginia Medical
Center in Charlottesville,Virginia.
(07:26):
And it's purely coincidentalthat I am an alumni there.
I'm a terrible alumni.
Um, and that had really had nobearing on it.
And that my youngest daughter,who is a nurse, graduated from
nursing school there.
So it was just all a, a matterof coincidence and it just was a
beautiful coincidence.
And I am still very close to theart curator, um, to this day and
(07:51):
time.
And, um, I talked to her once aweek cuz we developed a
relationship over the course ofa year.
So, um, I really wanted to dosomething special with this
artwork.
I wanted the legacy to be morethan just a piece of art, which
it is, but I wanted to have aphilanthropic role for it as
(08:14):
well.
Um, and I wanted to do somethingthat involved healthcare workers
as a way to support and thankthem as well as a mental health
component because I feel likethe pandemic really took a, a
toll on so many, so manypeople's wellbeing mm-hmm.
.
And so I reached out to about 30non-profits.
(08:36):
Um, and one of my caveats was Ididn't wanna handle the money, I
wanted it to run through thatnonprofit and I wanted it to be
a, um, you know, a taxdeductible type of contribution.
And the American NursesAssociation, within 30 minutes
of my reaching out to them, they, uh, responded and said, We'd
(08:58):
love to work with you.
Um, let's do something.
And they were so open.
This was a new kind offundraising campaign for them
because it was open ended and itwas, um, it's just not something
they've never done before.
And usually it was around anevent, like there was an artist
who was running a marathonraising money for the same
(09:22):
wellness initiative, but thiswas based on an art project.
And so, um, we decided to callthe project The Together While
Apart Thank You Nurses Projectand all of the money raised goes
towards ensuring that nursesaround the country receive the
(09:42):
mental wellness and the physicalwellness care they need, as well
as any kind of financial, um,planning they might need and job
enrichment.
So it was just right up my alleyand it just felt good to be able
to give back with this beautifulartwork.
So, um, that's where we areright now.
(10:04):
We're still, um, working onreaching Air Total, which is,
um, Air, air goal is$20,200,which is a play on the numbers
2020, which is the year ourhealthcare professionals became
rockstar, um, heroes.
And so our general ask of peopleis only$20 and 20 cents and year
(10:30):
to date right now we've raisedabout 13,500.
So, um, we're gonna get there.
I don't know when, but we'regonna get there.
So That's awesome.
Um, anyway,
Speaker 2 (10:43):
What a journey.
I mean, want a journey from,
Speaker 3 (10:45):
It really has been
Speaker 2 (10:47):
From looking in the mirror and spacing your fears to
connecting artists to going intothe, you know, giving to the
nurses.
Have you got any feedback fromnurses,
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Um, about Oh my gosh, they just light up.
They are so touched and becausethey feel seen and heard and I
know, um, I have a in line withmy daughter because she is a
nurse and she said, you know, wewent from getting applauses at
the end of shifts and people'sbringing us dinner on the floors
, um, at the end of shifts tobeing, um, either fussed at
(11:24):
because we're overworked andoverwhelmed, um, or we're
treated like we're invisible.
And that just broke my heart.
And every story I have readabout, um, healthcare
professionals right now, um, andthe status they, or the
situation they're in breaks myheart.
(11:44):
So I feel like as a country,they pulled us through the
pandemic and they're thebackbone of our healthcare
system and a lot of ourcommunities.
So I had to do whatever I couldin my power to support and thank
them and let them know that 19artists out in this country see
you and we honor you and we justrespect what you, what you do.
(12:07):
So is
Speaker 1 (12:08):
It, Yeah, Art is is that amazing tool of, um, sort
of, it's an, it's almost like anawareness but also an intimate
conversation.
Cause if I, I think about, youknow, the fact that the Together
Wall Apart Project was aboutcreating a community when, when
(12:28):
we couldn't be physically nearone another and you're, you're
extending that community to thenurses by That's
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Right.
This
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Project as a fundraiser.
And so what, what do you thinklike having the artwork adds to
the fundraising element of it,right?
Because like you said, a lot oftimes fundraisers are like, I'm
gonna run a marathon or Right.
Um, right.
So what, what is it that artadds to it?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
I think it adds, Well art is such a healer, as you all
know, and I also think it justshows people that you can, if
you have a, um, something you'repassionate about, you can create
a fundraiser or a project aroundit.
And I just was so passionateabout how we created community
from afar at such a scary,hopeless time that this artwork
(13:25):
stands for.
Um, you know, light and, um,positivity and being dedicated
to healthcare professionals justfelt like it was a really good
fit, um, to base a fundraisingcampaign around it.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I have, um, this is just brainstorming, but would it
be amazing to incorporate likethe nurses to do art like
Speaker 3 (13:50):
That?
I would love to do that down theroad Yes.
To have somebody say, Hey, Iwould love for you to come in
and do some kind of, um, projectwith the nurses.
Because as we all know, once youwork with your hands and get
outta your head and sort of intoyour heart, the healing can
(14:10):
begin.
And art is such a component ofthat.
And so many people say, Well,I'm not creative.
I'm not creative, but we allare.
And that's the beauty of, um,the next project I'm working on
is because I have a lot ofparticipants who are not
artists, but I think we're allcreative by the way we dress or
(14:32):
how we decorate our house or layout the food on our plate or
decorate our bookshelves.
Everybody is creative.
You just have to let that voiceshine through.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah.
You have to, Well, just like youdid Dean, uh, Lisa and I call it
your inner, you know, like yourinner critic, your child, it's
this little troll, right?
That sits on your shoulder justlike right uhhuh and everybody,
everybody has that, not justartists, but everybody has that
in some way in their, just intheir life.
And so like you flicked thattroll off your shoulder to make
(15:07):
this project happen and thenmake this fundraiser happen.
And it's almost like we have tohelp people, and this is what
Lisa and I are always trying todo, help people flick that their
own troll off their shoulderabout the, you know, what role
creativity can play in theirlife.
That it, it's not really aboutthe thing you're making, it's
about the experience you'rehaving while you're in the
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Process.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Right.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
And I had to think, Yeah, go ahead.
I'm sorry to interrupt you.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
No, go ahead.
You, you go.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I had to think, well, like I said, I have never raised
money before.
I hate asking people for money.
Um, I am so outta my conferencezone with this fundraiser, but I
so believe in supporting thesenurses.
And one thing I reflected on isI am stubborn.
I am, I've got a stubbornstreak, a mile wide in me, but
(15:58):
what if I turned that stubbornnegativity that's around
stubbornness and turned it intosomething I'm passionate about
and let that positive energypush me through to completion?
And so that's what I'm trying todo.
My other bad quality is I'm veryimpatient.
(16:20):
So I'm trying to flip thatimpatient on its ear to be more
of a savory, uh, a calming.
And, um, I hadn't gotten thereyet, but I'm working on it.
And, um, I guess acknowledgementis the first, the first lesson
or the first hurdle to get over.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Yeah, it's awesome.
It's,
Speaker 2 (16:40):
It's amazing.
It's like you expanded from thiswhole experience.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Well, I did, and after this experience, I started
another project with 22 otherparticipants.
I won't say there are a lot ofartists and non artists from
around the country.
And the caveat with this secondproject, it's called the Fresh
Start Project, it's about howonce you know, we got back to
(17:06):
Norm New normal after thepandemic, we all had to start
over again.
And a lot of the participants inthis project were coming off of
either a new job, a new move, adivorce, um, having their
children leave for college roleswere changing.
Um, and so I, I encourage them,What does a fresh start mean to
(17:29):
you?
And to put it down on your,it's, once again, we're using
the cardboard squares and it isjust amazing what, um, people
are coming up with for what afresh start represents to them.
Whether it's an image of abutterfly or a paddler on a
river, or, um, somebody who'swalking through a maze of
(17:54):
sticks.
It's just, it's so heartwarming.
And, um, so for me as thecreator of these projects, I
feel like these women haveentrusted me with their
imagination and creativity.
And so it's up to me to use itto its highest capacity and to
(18:15):
bring, to reach as many peopleas I can and spread as much joy
as I can collectively with bothof these projects.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
I love it.
So one last thing.
What would you say to someonewho has that idea in the back of
their head?
Um, you know, how does, how doyou believe in yourself no
matter what,
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Just one step at a time, and like you said, take
that troll, give it a name ifyou have to as an alter ego,
Speaker 1 (18:47):
I definitely have.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
And just, and just put it in the back seat.
And I love, um, ElizabethGilbert's, um, Big Magic.
I don't know if you all haveread that book, but it's dog
geared in my art studio and shetalks about fear and how fear
can come along for the ride.
That's okay.
But it just can't be in thedriver's seat or the passenger
(19:10):
seat.
It has to get in the back seat.
And I love that analogy.
And so I keep thinking, whatwould I do if I didn't have
fear?
And that always drives meforward and to take risk.
And it is scary, but that's whenyou surround yourself with a
community of people who are justas positive and inspiring and
(19:33):
who will see the best and helpyou find the best in whatever
you wanna, um, tackle.
And you can always reach out tome because I, you know, I am
all, all over people doing whatlights them up.
I just think that's the specialjoy and magic that we all need
to get through.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah.
Art is magic.
So
Speaker 3 (19:56):
It really is.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
People get a hold of you.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Okay.
Um, first of all, you can go onmy website, which is ww dot Dean
and it's dea n e v bowersart.com.
I'm also on Instagram at thetogether Wall Apart Art Project
and at the Fresh Start ArtProject and at Dean v Bower's
(20:19):
Art.
Um, and I would love, even if um, somebody wants to reach out
and say, Hey, I need a littledose of courage, I would be
happy to just give you a littlepush.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I love that.
I love that.
Just kind of passing it on.
That's, you know, let's do moreof that.
Yeah,
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Exactly.
We need to uplift and elevateeach other instead of squashing,
you know, each other down.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Super.
I completely agree.
And that's,
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Let's put both of these art projects have been
about, is elevating the peopleinvolved because then we go out
in the world and pass it on tothe people we come in contact
with, and it's just a beautifuldomino um, reaction.
It
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Is beautiful.
I love it.
Well, thanks for Yeah.
Coming and giving us an update.
Um, you know, we'll, we'll keepin touch and we'll, we'll put
all the links and all thedescriptions Thank you.
Wherever we put the video sopeople can find you and donate
to nurses.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Oh, thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
Awesome.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Thank you all.
Thank you.
Bye.
Art is Radiance
Speaker 1 (21:23):
.
I love that.
Yeah.
Art is magic.
We got a lot of.
Yay
The meeting is here.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Okay,
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Awesome.
We're Hi everyone.
Hey,
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Hey, we're here.
Movies podcast, Lauren.
We're really, really excited.
Um, we have a guest who withbefore excited.
And, um, Dean, why don't youkinda reintroduce yourself to
our, our
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Audience?
I would love to.
Hi everybody.
My name is Dean Bowers.
I am an artist, um, out and Ilive outside of Charleston,
South Carolina.
Um, I was on the podcast thistime last year telling everybody
about a project I did during thepandemic with 18 other artists
from nine states called TheTogether While Apart Project.
(00:50):
And so I just wanted to bringeverybody up to date on that
project and how it is, um, spura few more or sparked a few more
projects that I'm working on.
So, um,
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, so, um, just, you know, we obviously are in
conversation with you all thetime because you're one of our
buddies and an art advocate Oh.
Just like us.
So we like to stay connected andsee what you're up to.
Um, and yeah, like you said, youhave, uh, a bunch of other
projects going on.
Uh, this project even sparked afundraising campaign.
Yeah.
(01:25):
Um, something you just neverthought you would get yourself
into, but you did, which wethink is amazing and awesome.
And so the question we came upwith, uh, for you today is what
happens when you believe inyourself, You know, no matter
what, let's start there and just, um, you know, cuz I think
that's a really importantquestion to, for everyone to ask
(01:46):
themselves.
Um, and I think artists tend tohave to really almost fight to
believe in themselves and remindthemselves of that.
So let's kinda talk about itfrom that, uh, angle and, and,
um, yeah.
So what does happen when youbelieve in yourself, Dean,
Speaker 3 (02:01):
It's amazing.
And you realize that there's nota gatekeeper and that a lot of
times you are your, you are yourown worst enemy holding you
back.
And what I found is I had to getreally quiet and figure out why
I was afraid to do things andwhat would happen if I switched.
(02:22):
I can't, I don't know how.
I'm too scared with why the hecknot.
And so I did that and it tookgetting quiet and taking a lot
of time away from social mediaand not worrying about followers
or algorithms or web sales orany of that.
And just really concentrating onwhat personally, personally
(02:47):
lights me up as an artist andwhere I feel the most alive.
Um, and then I thought tomyself, what would I wanna tell
myself five years ago if I werein this position?
And what, how will I wanna lookback in five years and see
myself?
Will I be so proud?
(03:08):
Or will I be like, God, I wish Ihad taken that chance.
Um, for me, I'm not getting anyyounger and I think with age
comes a lot of wisdom andexperience and a lot of like,
why not?
Go for it.
I'm not getting any younger andnobody's gonna present me an
opportunity on a golden platterif I wanna make it happen, I've
(03:31):
gotta do it myself.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Wow.
So, uh, yeah, dive into the, ifyou have any specific fears that
you had and how you,
Speaker 3 (03:42):
I think it's the fear that we all have that we're not
enough.
That what is somebody gonnathink is just that, that
terrible criticism or that, um,terrible voice inside of our
head.
And to be honest, most peopleare so doing their own thing in
their own lane.
They don't really think twice.
(04:02):
It's, uh, it's us being our ownworst enemies.
And I found that with myself.
I, I, um, can be my own worstenemy, but I also can be my own
best cheerleader.
And so I had to do a lot of soulsearching and a lot of work and,
um, figuring out why that fearwas my, um, default mechanism
(04:25):
instead of Let's go for it,let's rock this and inspire.
And, um, I just, I, I don'tknow.
I just, I got to a point that Iwas sick of standing on the
sidelines and I wanted to dosomething that was bigger than
myself and bigger than my ownartwork.
And I wanted to get off thehamster wheel of social media
(04:48):
and seeking, um, approval fromoutside sources when it really
just matters.
You know, what I think at theend of the day.
So.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So you've been through some huge transformation
with this project?
Speaker 3 (05:03):
I really have.
I really have.
And I hope that it's been atrickle down to the other artist
involved because I feel likewhen we get lit up, then we pass
that spark on and other peoplearound us are like, I want what
she has.
And, um, I, I just think it'ssuch a gift not only to
(05:24):
ourselves, but the people wecome in contact with because we
just breed positivity andinspiration and, um, support.
So, um, I I just can't recommendit enough.
Get off social media forapproval.
That's not where you're gonnafind it.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah.
Okay.
So update us on this, um,together wall apart project and,
and sort of the, uh, web itcreated and the tangents it went
on and stuff.
Let us know.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I love that the web it created.
So this time last year when Iwas speaking with you all, it
had started traveling around,um, to various hospitals and
museums on a 10 month temporaryexhibition.
Um, it was a piece that wasthree feet by four feet and it
was made up of 35 cardboardsquare.
(06:18):
So it all started with a, acardboard square.
Um, that 18 artists besidesmyself, um, created.
And, um, during the process ofit being on temporary
exhibition, I was also goingthrough submission processes
with hospitals about permanentacquisition.
(06:40):
And there was one, um, hospitalin particular.
I just hit it off with the artcurator.
Um, and we had such a positive,um, relationship and she saw
beyond just the artwork, she sawthe spirit and that's what I
really wanted.
Um, and so long story short, um,they decided they really wanted
(07:03):
the artwork, They wanted it thatday, but they were willing to
honor the commitment I'd alreadymade in the temporary
exhibitions.
And we set a date for June, um,for me to bring it to them.
And it was installed.
Um, and that was at theUniversity of Virginia Medical
Center in Charlottesville,Virginia.
(07:26):
And it's purely coincidentalthat I am an alumni there.
I'm a terrible alumni.
Um, and that had really had nobearing on it.
And that my youngest daughter,who is a nurse, graduated from
nursing school there.
So it was just all a, a matterof coincidence and it just was a
beautiful coincidence.
And I am still very close to theart curator, um, to this day and
(07:51):
time.
And, um, I talked to her once aweek cuz we developed a
relationship over the course ofa year.
So, um, I really wanted to dosomething special with this
artwork.
I wanted the legacy to be morethan just a piece of art, which
it is, but I wanted to have aphilanthropic role for it as
(08:14):
well.
Um, and I wanted to do somethingthat involved healthcare workers
as a way to support and thankthem as well as a mental health
component because I feel likethe pandemic really took a, a
toll on so many, so manypeople's wellbeing mm-hmm.
And so I reached out to about 30non-profits.
(08:36):
Um, and one of my caveats was Ididn't wanna handle the money, I
wanted it to run through thatnonprofit and I wanted it to be
a, um, you know, a taxdeductible type of contribution.
And the American NursesAssociation, within 30 minutes
of my reaching out to them, they, uh, responded and said, We'd
(08:58):
love to work with you.
Um, let's do something.
And they were so open.
This was a new kind offundraising campaign for them
because it was open ended and itwas, um, it's just not something
they've never done before.
And usually it was around anevent, like there was an artist
who was running a marathonraising money for the same
(09:22):
wellness initiative, but thiswas based on an art project.
And so, um, we decided to callthe project The Together While
Apart Thank You Nurses Projectand all of the money raised goes
towards ensuring that nursesaround the country receive the
(09:42):
mental wellness and the physicalwellness care they need, as well
as any kind of financial, um,planning they might need and job
enrichment.
So it was just right up my alleyand it just felt good to be able
to give back with this beautifulartwork.
So, um, that's where we areright now.
(10:04):
We're still, um, working onreaching Air Total, which is,
um, Air, air goal is$20,200,which is a play on the numbers
2020, which is the year ourhealthcare professionals became
rockstar, um, heroes.
And so our general ask of peopleis only$20 and 20 cents and year
(10:30):
to date right now we've raisedabout 13,500.
So, um, we're gonna get there.
I don't know when, but we'regonna get there.
So That's awesome.
Um, anyway,
Speaker 2 (10:43):
What a journey.
I mean, want a journey from,
Speaker 3 (10:45):
It really has been
Speaker 2 (10:47):
From looking in the mirror and spacing your fears to
connecting artists to going intothe, you know, giving to the
nurses.
Have you got any feedback fromnurses,
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Um, about Oh my gosh, they just light up.
They are so touched and becausethey feel seen and heard and I
know, um, I have a in line withmy daughter because she is a
nurse and she said, you know, wewent from getting applauses at
the end of shifts and people'sbringing us dinner on the floors
, um, at the end of shifts tobeing, um, either fussed at
(11:24):
because we're overworked andoverwhelmed, um, or we're
treated like we're invisible.
And that just broke my heart.
And every story I have readabout, um, healthcare
professionals right now, um, andthe status they, or the
situation they're in breaks myheart.
(11:44):
So I feel like as a country,they pulled us through the
pandemic and they're thebackbone of our healthcare
system and a lot of ourcommunities.
So I had to do whatever I couldin my power to support and thank
them and let them know that 19artists out in this country see
you and we honor you and we justrespect what you, what you do.
(12:07):
So is
Speaker 1 (12:08):
It, Yeah, Art is is that amazing tool of, um, sort
of, it's an, it's almost like anawareness but also an intimate
conversation.
Cause if I, I think about, youknow, the fact that the Together
Wall Apart Project was aboutcreating a community when, when
(12:28):
we couldn't be physically nearone another and you're, you're
extending that community to thenurses by That's
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Right.
This
Speaker 1 (12:37):
Project as a fundraiser.
And so what, what do you thinklike having the artwork adds to
the fundraising element of it,right?
Because like you said, a lot oftimes fundraisers are like, I'm
gonna run a marathon or Right.
Um, right.
So what, what is it that artadds to it?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
I think it adds, Well art is such a healer, as you all
know, and I also think it justshows people that you can, if
you have a, um, something you'repassionate about, you can create
a fundraiser or a project aroundit.
And I just was so passionateabout how we created community
from afar at such a scary,hopeless time that this artwork
(13:25):
stands for.
Um, you know, light and, um,positivity and being dedicated
to healthcare professionals justfelt like it was a really good
fit, um, to base a fundraisingcampaign around it.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I have, um, this is just brainstorming, but would it
be amazing to incorporate likethe nurses to do art like
Speaker 3 (13:50):
That?
I would love to do that down theroad Yes.
To have somebody say, Hey, Iwould love for you to come in
and do some kind of, um, projectwith the nurses.
Because as we all know, once youwork with your hands and get
outta your head and sort of intoyour heart, the healing can
(14:10):
begin.
And art is such a component ofthat.
And so many people say, Well,I'm not creative.
I'm not creative, but we allare.
And that's the beauty of, um,the next project I'm working on
is because I have a lot ofparticipants who are not
artists, but I think we're allcreative by the way we dress or
(14:32):
how we decorate our house or layout the food on our plate or
decorate our bookshelves.
Everybody is creative.
You just have to let that voiceshine through.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Yeah.
You have to, Well, just like youdid Dean, uh, Lisa and I call it
your inner, you know, like yourinner critic, your child, it's
this little troll, right?
That sits on your shoulder justlike right uhhuh and everybody,
everybody has that, not justartists, but everybody has that
in some way in their, just intheir life.
And so like you flicked thattroll off your shoulder to make
(15:07):
this project happen and thenmake this fundraiser happen.
And it's almost like we have tohelp people, and this is what
Lisa and I are always trying todo, help people flick that their
own troll off their shoulderabout the, you know, what role
creativity can play in theirlife.
That it, it's not really aboutthe thing you're making, it's
about the experience you'rehaving while you're in the
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Process.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Right.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
And I had to think, Yeah, go ahead.
I'm sorry to interrupt you.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
No, go ahead.
You, you go.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
I had to think, well, like I said, I have never raised
money before.
I hate asking people for money.
Um, I am so outta my conferencezone with this fundraiser, but I
so believe in supporting thesenurses.
And one thing I reflected on isI am stubborn.
I am, I've got a stubbornstreak, a mile wide in me, but
(15:58):
what if I turned that stubbornnegativity that's around
stubbornness and turned it intosomething I'm passionate about
and let that positive energypush me through to completion?
And so that's what I'm trying todo.
My other bad quality is I'm veryimpatient.
(16:20):
So I'm trying to flip thatimpatient on its ear to be more
of a savory, uh, a calming.
And, um, I hadn't gotten thereyet, but I'm working on it.
And, um, I guess acknowledgementis the first, the first lesson
or the first hurdle to get over.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Yeah, it's awesome.
It's,
Speaker 2 (16:40):
It's amazing.
It's like you expanded from thiswhole experience.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Well, I did, and after this experience, I started
another project with 22 otherparticipants.
I won't say there are a lot ofartists and non artists from
around the country.
And the caveat with this secondproject, it's called the Fresh
Start Project, it's about howonce you know, we got back to
(17:06):
Norm New normal after thepandemic, we all had to start
over again.
And a lot of the participants inthis project were coming off of
either a new job, a new move, adivorce, um, having their
children leave for college roleswere changing.
Um, and so I, I encourage them,What does a fresh start mean to
(17:29):
you?
And to put it down on your,it's, once again, we're using
the cardboard squares and it isjust amazing what, um, people
are coming up with for what afresh start represents to them.
Whether it's an image of abutterfly or a paddler on a
river, or, um, somebody who'swalking through a maze of
(17:54):
sticks.
It's just, it's so heartwarming.
And, um, so for me as thecreator of these projects, I
feel like these women haveentrusted me with their
imagination and creativity.
And so it's up to me to use itto its highest capacity and to
(18:15):
bring, to reach as many peopleas I can and spread as much joy
as I can collectively with bothof these projects.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
I love it.
So one last thing.
What would you say to someonewho has that idea in the back of
their head?
Um, you know, how does, how doyou believe in yourself no
matter what,
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Just one step at a time, and like you said, take
that troll, give it a name ifyou have to as an alter ego,
Speaker 1 (18:47):
I definitely have.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
And just, and just put it in the back seat.
And I love, um, ElizabethGilbert's, um, Big Magic.
I don't know if you all haveread that book, but it's dog
geared in my art studio and shetalks about fear and how fear
can come along for the ride.
That's okay.
But it just can't be in thedriver's seat or the passenger
(19:10):
seat.
It has to get in the back seat
And I love that analogy.
And so I keep thinking, whatwould I do if I didn't have
fear?
And that always drives meforward and to take risk.
And it is scary, but that's whenyou surround yourself with a
community of people who are justas positive and inspiring and
(19:33):
who will see the best and helpyou find the best in whatever
you wanna, um, tackle.
And you can always reach out tome because I, you know, I am
all, all over people doing whatlights them up.
I just think that's the specialjoy and magic that we all need
to get through.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah.
Art is magic.
So
Speaker 3 (19:56):
It really is.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
People get a hold of you.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Okay.
Um, first of all, you can go onmy website, which is ww dot Dean
and it's dea n e v bowersart.com.
I'm also on Instagram at thetogether Wall Apart Art Project
and at the Fresh Start ArtProject and at Dean v Bower's
(20:19):
Art.
Um, and I would love, even if um, somebody wants to reach out
and say, Hey, I need a littledose of courage, I would be
happy to just give you a littlepush.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I love that.
I love that.
Just kind of passing it on.
That's, you know, let's do moreof that.
Yeah,
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Exactly.
We need to uplift and elevateeach other instead of squashing,
you know, each other down.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Super.
I completely agree.
And that's,
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Let's put both of these art projects have been
about, is elevating the peopleinvolved because then we go out
in the world and pass it on tothe people we come in contact
with, and it's just a beautifuldomino um, reaction.
It
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Is beautiful.
I love it.
Well, thanks for Yeah.
Coming and giving us an update.
Um, you know, we'll, we'll keepin touch and we'll, we'll put
all the links and all thedescriptions Thank you.
Wherever we put the video sopeople can find you and donate
to nurses.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Oh, thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
Awesome.
Thank you so much.
Awesome.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Thank you all.
Thank you.
Bye.
Art is Radiance
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I love that.
Yeah.
Art is magic.
We got a lot of.
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