Feb 18, 2020
<p>Swoon has been one of my heros for almost 20 years now... I first found her work when I was living in and spending a lot of time in NYC and the surrounding areas from 2000-2002. <p><p>Known initially for her prolific wheat paste prints that were plastered all over the city and then quickly transitioning into a well known gallery artist who specialized in public installation works.<p><p>She collected a group of friends and collaborators, built these amazing rafts out of garbage and found objects and literally sailed all over the world, bringing art and performances and creative communion everywhere they went. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swoon_(artist)#Swimming_Cities_of_Serenissima,_2009<p><p>She went to Haiti after the earthquakes and helped villages learn a method of building structures that not only could they live in but would withstand further environmental destruction.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swoon_(artist)#Konbit_Shelter<p><p>She has constantly pushed the envelope with her unique blend of whimsical folk fairy tale imagery, expressive portraiture and hands on humanitarian applications. Most recently she has begun to tell her own story as a survivor of trauma & her journey of healing it through psychedelic therapy and art. I couldn't be more proud and excited to share this conversation with you.<p><p>TRIGGER WARNING : We go in depth about drug addiction, physical neglect/abuse of adults and of children, and things of this nature. It is by no means a dark conversation, it is full of hope, light and inspiration but I felt like a warning was necessary. We also talk a lot about the power of the subconscious and its connection to art making.<p><p>I recommend watching her incredible talk at Horizons before or directly after this episode. Just in case, I have attached the full audio of it to the end of the episode. We reference it quite a few times as it was the impetus of this conversation occuring in the first place. It is so powerful and it's a testament to why I am equally passionate about the healing power of art and the need to destigmatize psychedelics.<p>
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