The Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at the University of Pennsylvania Presents:
Jeffery Smith University of Otago
Karleen Gardner Philadelphia Musum of Art
Part of the HHF Colloquium Series
in Conversation:
Art Museums as Institutions of Well-Being
Wednesday, September 21, 3:30pm-5:00pm ET
Presentation Abstracts
The Museum Effect: Who We Were, Are, and Might Become
Jeffery Smith
This talk will explore how our encounters with works of art in museum settings cause us to think about ourselves, our interaction with others, and our place in the world. This perspective looks at the entire museum visit as the "unit of analysis" and employs Csikszentmihalyi's Flow Model and Tinio's Mirror Model to explore how art enhances human flourishing.
Art Museums as Empathy Gyms
Karleen Gardner
How can art museums center individual and social well-being? This talk will highlight examples of innovative programming that offers museum visitors opportunities to practice mindfulness, flex their empathy muscles, and engage with others through art-based experiences.