13 Nov The Normal? Brain
On November 9 I had the pleasure of being featured at the Normal? Brain Festival, originating in Folkestone UK (where it has taken place since 2015 in person over four days). This year the festival went virtual and runs through April 2020. The purpose is to bring science and art together to explore, question and connect around the festival themes.This year’s themes are The Knowing versus Growing Brain (inspired by my book The Overweight Brain: How Our Obsession with Knowing Keeps Us from Getting Smart Enough to Make a Better World), Power and Touch.
My journey to the Festival began with Susanna Howard, founder and artistic director of Living Words ,an amazing organization that works artistically with people affected by dementias. Living Words, along with two other Folkestone organizations, Folkestone Fringe and Creative Folkestone, sponsors the Festival . I met Susanna last May in London at the Global Improvisation Initiative and we’ve fast become friends who are kindred spirits. She invited me to speak at the Festival. My session, Non Knowing Growing began with host Susanna introducing me and asking, “So, What’s non knowing growing?” After I responded, Susanna then introduced three conversationalists—Timothy Rittmen, a neuroscientist from Cambridge, Aril Sebatian, a musician from Folkestone, and Rose, an advocate from Folkestone—one at a time by reading a short excerpt from The Overweight Brain and asking each of them to comment on/respond to the excerpt she chose for them. They had great offers and we created a lively creative and fun conversation. I’d love for you to watch Non Knowing Growing and tell me what you think.
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