This seminar will focus on gaining a greater appreciation of the incredible healing power of the arts, including art forms traditionally viewed as “crafts,” and gracefully integrating them into joyful community activities and celebrations. Current art criticism is increasingly focusing on diverse narratives, inclusivity and accessibility, globalization, and the use of social media. We will touch on some of these currents and, by blending scholarly analysis with hands-on creative activities, we will foster a space to reflect on the arts' role “as an important means of generating joy, strengthening bonds of unity, disseminating knowledge and consolidating understanding” (Universal House of Justice).
