TED Talks Daily How art transforms brokenness into beauty | Lily Yeh
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Dec 4, 2024 
Lily Yeh, a barefoot artist renowned for her collaborative public art projects, shares her transformative experiences across the globe. She discusses the profound impact of art on marginalized communities, illuminating her work in North Philadelphia and Rwanda. Yeh emphasizes how creativity can revitalize neglected spaces and foster personal healing among community members. Her inspiring stories reveal how art acts as a powerful catalyst for social change, turning brokenness into beauty and connecting people in the process.
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The Birth of the Village
- Lily Yeh, initially hesitant to work in a North Philadelphia neighborhood due to its poverty and crime, found herself drawn in.
- Starting small with children and donated materials, they created murals and sculptures, eventually evolving into a nonprofit organization called the Village of Arts and Humanities.
Finding Treasure in Brokenness
- What the world saw as broken in the community, Lily Yeh found to be a treasure trove of resources, talent, and creativity.
- Working with the community helped her find what was missing in her life, leading her to leave her professorship.
Rwanda Genocide Memorial
- After establishing Barefoot Artists, Lily Yeh collaborated with Jean Bosco Musana in Rwanda to create a genocide memorial.
- Involving survivors, construction teams, and mosaic workshops, the memorial became a place of dignity and hope.