What it Means to Be an Artist | David Best | TEDxSonomaCounty

Summary

The speaker recounts his transformative experience building a temple in Northern Ireland amidst the 'troubles', emphasizing the power of art to heal and unite communities. He shares the story of creating a sacred space for mourning and forgiveness, attracting 68,000 visitors, and reflects on the importance of turning grief into creation. The narrative also touches on the speaker's journey as an artist, his philosophy on the value of work, and the significance of collaboration in art.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The speaker's significant project involved building a temple in Northern Ireland amidst a historically conflicted area, signifying a commitment to art in challenging environments.
• 🤝 The project was initiated by an organization named 'Artichoke' and was later funded by Helen Marriage, highlighting the importance of community support in realizing artistic visions.
• 🛠️ The construction team was carefully selected, including local unemployed Irish carpenters, to ensure the project was inclusive and sensitive to the local community's needs.
• ⛪ The temple's location was contentious, yet the speaker chose it deliberately to bring art to a place of need, demonstrating a belief in art's power to heal and unite.
• 🗣️ The speaker faced opposition from religious leaders, yet stood firm in the decision to build in a neighborhood that needed help, reflecting a commitment to social impact over approval.
• 🎭 The temple became a place where over 68,000 people came to grieve, forgive, and address their losses, underscoring the profound emotional connection people have with art.
• 🎨 The speaker's artistic journey began at a young age, influenced by a stepfather who was an artist, showing the lasting impact of early exposure to creativity.
• 🔥 The temple-building tradition started accidentally after a friend's death, evolving into a meaningful ritual for commemorating and honoring the deceased.
• 😅 Humor was incorporated into the temple experience one year, showing the speaker's ability to adapt and acknowledge different ways people cope with grief.
• 🎁 The speaker encourages turning grief into creation, suggesting that making something beautiful from loss can be a form of healing and a tribute to the departed.
• 🤝 Collaboration is a central theme in the speaker's work, emphasizing the joy and fulfillment that comes from working with others to create something meaningful.

Q & A

What was the speaker's most important project in Northern Ireland?

The speaker's most important project in Northern Ireland was building a temple in Dairy Dairies, a location where many troubles had occurred, including Bloody Sunday.

Who invited the speaker to Northern Ireland and why did they want a temple built?

The speaker was invited by an organization called Artichoke. Helen Marriage, who was part of the organization, wanted the temple to be built because she believed in the project and was moved to tears when discussing it.

What was the requirement for the Irish carpenters hired for the temple project?

The Irish carpenters hired for the temple project had to have been unemployed for at least six months.

Why was the chosen site for the temple considered contested?

The chosen site for the temple was considered contested because both Protestants and Catholics wanted it, and there was potential for conflict over it.

What was the reaction of the Catholic priest and the Protestant minister to the temple's location?

The Catholic priest and the Protestant minister advised against building the temple in that location, suggesting it was a bad neighborhood and that it would cause trouble. They recommended a beautiful park instead.

How did the speaker respond to the priest's suggestion to build the temple in a park?

The speaker rejected the suggestion, stating that one doesn't send a temple to a park but rather goes where the people need help.

How many people visited the temple in Northern Ireland, and why was it significant?

Around 68,000 people visited the temple in Northern Ireland. It was significant because it was a place for the Irish people to come together to forgive and address their losses.

What was the speaker's childhood experience that led them to become an artist?

The speaker's stepfather, who was an artist, took them to the Art Institute when they were six years old, which inspired them to become an artist.

How did the speaker begin building temples?

The speaker began building temples by accident after a young man they were working with was killed in a motorcycle accident. They used scrap wood to build a structure in the desert as a memorial.

What was the speaker's intention for the center of the temple they built?

The speaker dedicated the center of the temple to those who had taken their own lives and were not allowed to be buried in traditional cemeteries due to religious beliefs.

What is the speaker's view on using loss to create something meaningful?

The speaker believes that it's important not to waste loss but to use it to create something beautiful, like art or community projects, as a way to heal and honor the memory of those who have passed.