Soulful Artistry: Jenenne Whitfield's Creative Vision

Begin your experience with 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, presented by the one and only Rob Lee. Today we have Jenenne Whitfield, the president of The Heidelberg Project since 2017, who has propelled the project to international recognition as one of the most influential art environments globally. She has collaborated with institutions worldwide, expanding the project's reach. Whitfield and Tyree Guyton, the project's founder, introduced "Heidelberg-ology," exploring discarded materials' impact on urban communities. Her leadership has garnered over 27 awards and global acclaim for The Heidelberg Project. Beyond her executive role, Whitfield lectures teaches art courses, and mentors emerging art thinkers. She's also a co-founder of Detroit's United Artists of Detroit collective. With her appointment as director of the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Whitfield continues her journey at the intersection of art, community, and spirituality.

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Rebecca Alban Hoffberger stated: “From idea to sustained fruition, the American Visionary Art Museum has occupied more than half my life. Without reservation, and with unanimous AVAM Board and staff accord, I have the utmost peace and joy in our rightful selection of Jenenne Whitfield as my successor.”

About the AVAM

The American Visionary Art Museum—a Congressionally-designated national museum and education center dedicated to showcasing intuitive, self-taught artistry and thought—welcomes only its second director in its 30+-year history with the appointment of Jenenne Whitfield by the Board of Directors to succeed Founder and director and Primary Curator Rebecca Alban Hoffberger.  Ms. Whitfield was previously the President & CEO of The Heidelberg Project and worked with the Detroit-based outdoor artistic organization for 28 years. Ms. Whitfield formally takes up her new role with AVAM in September 2022.

Inside this recording, we venture into:

• A discussion about the universal nature of creativity, going beyond traditional definitions to explore how connecting with our inner selves can unleash artistic expression.
• The perspective of Whitfield on the terminology "outsider art" and delve into the idea that artistic power is not confined to formal training, opening up conversations about the value of diverse creative voices.
• The concept of perfection in art, shedding light on the deeper motivations behind the pursuit of flawlessness and how it can sometimes hinder true artistic growth.
• The transformative potential of authentic creativity, exploring how art that originates from a soulful place can bring about profound changes within individuals and communities.
• The evolving cultural landscape and the renaissance in art and creativity, driven by a collective shift towards soul-centered values over materialism, and its impact on the artistic and cultural reawakening.

Jenenne shares her journey from corporate America to the world of art and spirituality. She discusses the power of metaphysics and the importance of tapping into the soul to create meaningful art. Whitfield also reflects on her time at the Heidelberg Project in Detroit and the challenges and triumphs of building an innovative art environment. She shares her excitement about joining AVAM and the serendipitous events that led her to this new role. Whitfield believes that creativity is innate in all of us and that it is essential to tap into our childlike qualities to create meaningful work.

Interview conducted in October 2022.

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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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