Arts

Consensus: Workshop Exhibition Builds Empathy Through Art

By Elizabeth Krasnoff Holzer

April–May 2021

Historical April–May 2021 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

If this year of isolation has taught educators like me anything, it is the vital need for social emotional learning strategies and programming for students of all ages. Parents are demanding it, and students are clamoring for it.

But how? How do we ensure we develop the Human in the Humanities? For me, the answer comes from a program called Consenses.

My journey began with a workshop I gave myself as a birthday present last summer. Enter Sally Taylor, the amazing singer/songwriter/ artist/educator (and daughter of Carly Simon and James Taylor), who created Consenses as a means of exploring our social and emotional connections through the Arts.

I originally learned of the curriculum back in 2014 when I heard Taylor give a TED Talk about it, and I was hooked. Not only did I take the workshop, I became certified as a Consenses teacher. So what is Consenses and how does it work?

On the website, Taylor describes it this way: “Consenses is a multidisciplinary, multimedia, social emotional learning curriculum that offers students an artistic game of ‘Telephone’ as a vehicle for unity, creativity, understanding, and of differing perspectives. Using photography, painting, poetry, movement, music, sculpture and design, the Consenses curriculum promotes. . . self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decisionmaking.” Taylor created the program in collaboration with the Harvard University School of Education.

As Taylor put it, “Students learn to use art as a language and a lens through which they see themselves,

each other and their world more clearly, compassionately, and expansively.

They learn … empathy through ‘listening’ to others … through various art forms. Consenses positions students to succeed in the world by building the skills needed to be collaborative, critical thinkers using their curious minds to contribute to society.” What I found as a student and a teacher is nothing short of magic.

The alchemy of the lessons offers such interesting methods of approaching topics of love, belonging, place, emotions, and sense of being — the Human in Humanities. “This class has been quite AMAZING,” said Elizabeth Spring, of Skinker-DeBaliviere. “Consenses created a beautiful way for people to connect and create in ways that, otherwise, wouldn’t happen at all.” In each lesson, we explored a new medium and then used the skills and specific wordplay exercises to broaden our thinking and creativity.

Each piece was based on experiencing the piece before it. No explanation was given with the artwork only an activity and the piece itself.

From there, each student responded with their own art in a different medium. “The class broadened my creative scope by focusing on areas of art that I don’t usually think about,” said Sophia Wilson, Junior at Webster Groves High School. “I had a great experience.” As the lessons progressed, students’ works became a collective.

While each piece stands on its own, together they connect to each other and ultimately reveal an underlying concept or message that is powerful and expressive.

The final works beg to be experienced. And so they shall be.

In May, Consenses STL will present its first “Poetic Justice Arts Show” in the Loop. Firm dates are still pending, but keep an eye out at 6267 Delmar Blvd., a storefront between Meshuggah and Sneaker Perfection. There, property owner Mary Gorman has graciously donated the space for the exhibition. “I am happy to support the exhibit,” Gorman said. “ My friend Jason at JD Flooring is installing this fabulous medallion floor — I can’t think of a better way to showcase it.” For more information about summer workshops or the exhibit, reach out to me, Elizabeth Krasnoff Holzer, at ekholzer6115@gmail.com.