Creative people are awesome. That’s because, in my experience they’ve always got something to say. This could also be true about most creative work really, because in essence all creative work speaks to somebody, on some level, somewhere. The question is, what are we saying? And how can we amalgamate the creative work we do with the world around us? To do something new, make a difference, influence change?
Enter Artists for Positive Social Change at The Santa Fe University of Art & Design. Â A groundbreaking, university-wide series of events, lectures, and performances that highlight one high-profile issue, artist, or genre that spans the entire year.
Recently, I had the chance to talk with the man behind this idea, David Scheinbaum, who is the Head of Photography at the University. Now, you’d think that when you get a man like David on the phone from the other side of the world I’d be asking him for tips on how I can take better photos or maybe what he thinks of the Frontier creative challenge entries. Not so. This time we spoke about Hip Hop. Awesome.
That’s because this year at SFUAD it is the year of Hip Hop and the first year of the Artists for Positive Social change. So, here’s looking at you Santa Fe University! So far, artists such as Bukue One, and Brian Hardgroove have been on campus talking, working with and helping to align interested students with the role that art can have to bring awareness to issues. Talking to Scheinbaum, he describes his love for the genre of Hip Hop as being similar to music he listened to in the 60’s where a community was built around the music itself “It influenced the way I dressed, my identity, how I got my information.â€
Why do I like this idea? I like it because it’s a cool way to actively get young designers and creators to think about the work they’re putting out and the effects it will have on the people around them. The Artists for Positive Social Change – Year of Hip Hop ends in April with a concert on campus by none other than Public Enemy!
If you want to hear an interview with David himself go here and check it out, or here to view more of his Hip Hop photography.
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