What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 WHAT'S UP! MARCH 25-31, 2018 Empathetic Engagement COVER STORY Speakers encourage understanding through innovation JOCELYN MURPHY NWA Democrat-Gazette W hen staff members at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art build the lineup for a new Distinguished Speaker Series, they consider so much more than speaker availability. "[We] think about speakers that could inspire our guests and our community on how we [can be] more inclusive with each other, and how we can build dialogue about looking at art from a perspective of equality," says public programs manager Sara Segerlin. Those ideals are certainly present in the 2018 schedule, which sees another year of the museum hosting innovators and leaders in their fields. As museum staff made speaker selections, they were also inspired by the redesign of the Early American galleries in the permanent collection to reflect a more inclusive American experience from all different perspectives across history. "This year particularly, among the museum staff and with the public, we're talking a lot about empathy," Segerlin reveals. "What does empathy mean and how can empathy help us understand each other better? Especially when talking about art, because each person has their own perspective and experience with an artwork or when they're in nature. We wanted to bring in speakers that would help guide the community in thinking about [that]." That outlook is shared by Anthony Sumlin, a volunteer council member for Artinfusion programming. Sumlin says part of what he enjoys about the Speaker Series is the way it allows people to get out of their "echo chambers" — where it's easy to tune in only to messages that resonate with how one already thinks and feels. COURTESY PHOTO Crystal Bridges public programs manager Sara Segerlin says speaker Patrisse Khan Cullors, one of the co-founders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, has a powerful connection to the temporary exhibition on display during her visit: "We have 'Soul of a Nation' showing, [which is] a fantastic show about artists during the civil rights period and it's something that's very close to us in history. But we want to continue these stories all the time. We thought especially with this show being here, this was a good opportunity to hear from people who are still currently working in the civil rights movement."