[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.21,0:00:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm a potter,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.22,0:00:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which seems like a fairly humble vocation.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.75,0:00:12.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know a lot about pots.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.63,0:00:16.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've spent about 15 years making them.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.31,0:00:19.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the things that really\Nexcites me in my artistic practice
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.34,0:00:22.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and being trained as a potter
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.06,0:00:27.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that you very quickly learn\Nhow to make great things out of nothing;
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.50,0:00:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I spent a lot of time at my wheel\Nwith mounds of clay trying stuff;
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.28,0:00:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that the limitations\Nof my capacity, my ability,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.78,0:00:40.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was based on my hands and my imagination;
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.51,0:00:42.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if I wanted to make\Na really nice bowl
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.71,0:00:44.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I didn't know how to make a foot yet,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.81,0:00:47.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would have to learn how to make a foot;
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.83,0:00:51.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that that process of learning\Nhas been very, very helpful to my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.98,0:00:54.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I feel like, as a potter,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.96,0:00:59.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you also start to learn\Nhow to shape the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.07,0:01:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There have been times\Nin my artistic capacity
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.18,0:01:05.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I wanted to reflect
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.04,0:01:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on other really important moments
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.70,0:01:11.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the history of the U.S.,\Nthe history of the world
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.81,0:01:13.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where tough things happened,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.40,0:01:16.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but how do you talk about tough ideas
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.09,0:01:20.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without separating people\Nfrom that content?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.20,0:01:25.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Could I use art like these old,\Ndiscontinued firehoses from Alabama,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.79,0:01:31.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talk about the complexities of a moment\Nof civil rights in the '60s?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.95,0:01:36.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is it possible to talk about my father\Nand I doing labor projects?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.80,0:01:40.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My dad was a roofer, construction guy,\Nhe owned small businesses,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.95,0:01:46.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and at 80, he was ready to retire\Nand his tar kettle was my inheritance.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.85,0:01:51.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, a tar kettle doesn't sound\Nlike much of an inheritance. It wasn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.66,0:01:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was stinky and it took up\Na lot of space in my studio,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.61,0:01:59.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I asked my dad if he would be willing\Nto make some art with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.90,0:02:03.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we could reimagine this kind\Nof nothing material
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.73,0:02:06.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as something very special.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.22,0:02:09.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And by elevating the material\Nand my dad's skill,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.61,0:02:14.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could we start to think about tar\Njust like clay, in a new way,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.90,0:02:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shaping it differently,\Nhelping us to imagine what was possible?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.61,0:02:25.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After clay, I was then kind of turned on\Nto lots of different kinds of materials,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.79,0:02:28.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my studio grew a lot\Nbecause I thought, well,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.76,0:02:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not really about the material,\Nit's about our capacity to shape things.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.85,0:02:35.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I became more and more interested in ideas
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.70,0:02:40.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and more and more things that \Nwere happening just outside my studio.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.90,0:02:45.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just to give you a little bit of context,\NI live in Chicago.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.10,0:02:48.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I live on the South Side now.\NI'm a West Sider.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.36,0:02:51.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For those of you who are not Chicagoans,\Nthat won't mean anything,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.77,0:02:54.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but if I didn't mention\Nthat I was a West Sider,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.02,0:02:58.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there would be a lot of people\Nin the city that would be very upset.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.20,0:03:01.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The neighborhood that I live in\Nis Grand Crossing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.15,0:03:04.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a neighborhood\Nthat has seen better days.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.98,0:03:09.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is not a gated community by far.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.07,0:03:12.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is lots of abandonment\Nin my neighborhood,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.20,0:03:15.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and while I was kind of busy\Nmaking pots and busy making art
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.71,0:03:17.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and having a good art career,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.66,0:03:19.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was all of this stuff\Nthat was happening
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.81,0:03:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just outside my studio.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.46,0:03:25.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All of us know about\Nfailing housing markets
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.75,0:03:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the challenges of blight,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.58,0:03:31.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I feel like we talk about it\Nwith some of our cities more than others,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.06,0:03:33.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I think a lot of our\NU.S. cities and beyond
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.99,0:03:36.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have the challenge of blight,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.01,0:03:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,abandoned buildings that people\Nno longer know what to do anything with.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.24,0:03:43.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I thought, is there a way\Nthat I could start to think
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.09,0:03:48.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about these buildings as an extension\Nor an expansion of my artistic practice?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.48,0:03:51.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that if I was thinking\Nalong with other creatives --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.50,0:03:55.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,architects, engineers,\Nreal estate finance people --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.17,0:03:58.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that us together might be able\Nto kind of think
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.05,0:04:01.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in more complicated ways\Nabout the reshaping of cities.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.08,0:04:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I bought a building.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.73,0:04:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The building was really affordable.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.47,0:04:09.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We tricked it out.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.18,0:04:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We made it as beautiful as we could\Nto try to just get some activity happening
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.62,0:04:15.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on my block.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.87,0:04:18.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once I bought the building\Nfor about 18,000 dollars,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.31,0:04:20.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't have any money left.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.33,0:04:24.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I started sweeping the building\Nas a kind of performance.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.60,0:04:28.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is performance art,\Nand people would come over,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.34,0:04:29.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I would start sweeping.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.90,0:04:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because the broom was free\Nand sweeping was free.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.54,0:04:34.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It worked out.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.70,0:04:36.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.94,0:04:42.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we would use the building, then,\Nto stage exhibitions, small dinners,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.39,0:04:46.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we found that that building\Non my block, Dorchester --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.34,0:04:49.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we now referred to the block\Nas Dorchester projects --
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.05,0:04:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that in a way that building\Nbecame a kind of gathering site
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.54,0:04:54.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for lots of different kinds of activity.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.77,0:04:59.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We turned the building into\Nwhat we called now the Archive House.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.22,0:05:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Archive House would do\Nall of these amazing things.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.40,0:05:05.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Very significant people\Nin the city and beyond
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.75,0:05:08.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would find themselves\Nin the middle of the hood.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.42,0:05:10.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's when I felt like
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.79,0:05:13.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe there was a relationship\Nbetween my history with clay
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.60,0:05:16.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this new thing that was\Nstarting to develop,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.17,0:05:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we were slowly starting
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.51,0:05:22.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to reshape how people imagined\Nthe South Side of the city.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.44,0:05:25.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One house turned into a few houses,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.62,0:05:28.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we always tried to suggest
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.08,0:05:32.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that not only is creating\Na beautiful vessel important,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.01,0:05:35.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the contents of what happens\Nin those buildings is also very important.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.88,0:05:38.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we were not only thinking\Nabout development,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.53,0:05:40.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we were thinking about the program,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.85,0:05:44.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thinking about the kind of connections\Nthat could happen
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.36,0:05:48.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between one house and another,\Nbetween one neighbor and another.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.16,0:05:53.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This building became what we call\Nthe Listening House,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.18,0:05:56.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it has a collection of discarded books
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.43,0:05:59.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the Johnson Publishing Corporation,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.10,0:06:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and other books from an old bookstore\Nthat was going out of business.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.10,0:06:07.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was actually just wanting to activate\Nthese buildings as much as I could
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.37,0:06:10.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with whatever and whoever would join me.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.68,0:06:14.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In Chicago, there's\Namazing building stock.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.61,0:06:18.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This building, which had been\Nthe former crack house on the block,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.79,0:06:21.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when the building became abandoned,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.34,0:06:25.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it became a great opportunity to really\Nimagine what else could happen there.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.25,0:06:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this space we converted into\Nwhat we call Black Cinema House.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.30,0:06:33.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Black Cinema House was an opportunity\Nin the hood to screen films
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.42,0:06:37.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that were important and relevant\Nto the folk who lived around me,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.63,0:06:41.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if we wanted to show\Nan old Melvin Van Peebles film, we could.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.35,0:06:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we wanted to show "Car Wash," we could.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.02,0:06:45.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That would be awesome.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.99,0:06:48.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The building we soon outgrew,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.55,0:06:51.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we had to move to a larger space.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.05,0:06:55.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Black Cinema House, which was made\Nfrom just a small piece of clay,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.49,0:07:02.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had to grow into a much larger\Npiece of clay, which is now my studio.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.78,0:07:06.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I realized was that\Nfor those of you who are zoning junkies,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.59,0:07:08.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that some of the things that I was doing
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.58,0:07:11.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in these buildings\Nthat had been left behind,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.88,0:07:15.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they were not the uses by which\Nthe buildings were built,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.71,0:07:17.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that there are city policies that say,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.94,0:07:21.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Hey, a house that is residential\Nneeds to stay residential."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.26,0:07:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what do you do in neighborhoods when\Nain't nobody interested in living there?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.07,0:07:30.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That the people who have\Nthe means to leave have already left?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.01,0:07:32.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do we do with\Nthese abandoned buildings?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.50,0:07:35.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I was trying\Nto wake them up using culture.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.70,0:07:38.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We found that that\Nwas so exciting for folk,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.71,0:07:43.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and people were so responsive to the work,\Nthat we had to then find bigger buildings.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.27,0:07:45.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the time we found bigger buildings,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.32,0:07:49.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was, in part, the resources \Nnecessary to think about those things.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.57,0:07:53.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this bank that we called the Arts Bank,\Nit was in pretty bad shape.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.90,0:07:57.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was about six feet\Nof standing water.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.19,0:07:59.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a difficult project to finance,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.65,0:08:02.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because banks weren't interested\Nin the neighborhood
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.08,0:08:04.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because people weren't interested\Nin the neighborhood
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.64,0:08:06.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because nothing had happened there.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.74,0:08:10.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was dirt. It was nothing.\NIt was nowhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.72,0:08:16.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so we just started imagining,\Nwhat else could happen in this building?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.38,0:08:21.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.85,0:08:24.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so now that the rumor\Nof my block has spread,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.62,0:08:26.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lots of people are starting to visit,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.60,0:08:28.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we've found that the bank\Ncan now be a center
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.70,0:08:31.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for exhibition, archives,\Nmusic performance,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.91,0:08:34.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that there are people\Nwho are now interested
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.69,0:08:38.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in being adjacent to those buildings\Nbecause we brought some heat,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.22,0:08:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we kind of made a fire.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.68,0:08:44.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the archives that we'll have there\Nis this Johnson Publishing Corporation.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.93,0:08:48.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've also started to collect\Nmemorabilia from American history,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.52,0:08:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from people who live\Nor have lived in that neighborhood.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.36,0:08:56.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of these images\Nare degraded images of black people,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.09,0:08:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kind of histories\Nof very challenging content,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.37,0:09:01.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and where better than a neighborhood
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.83,0:09:06.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with young people who are constantly\Nasking themselves about their identity
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.10,0:09:08.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to talk about some of the complexities
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.35,0:09:10.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of race and class?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.90,0:09:14.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some ways, the bank represents a hub,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.62,0:09:19.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we're trying to create a pretty \Nhardcore node of cultural activity,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.98,0:09:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that if we could start\Nto make multiple hubs
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.84,0:09:25.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and connect some cool\Ngreen stuff around there,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.79,0:09:28.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the buildings that we've\Npurchased and rehabbed,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.74,0:09:32.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is now around 60 or 70 units,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.01,0:09:37.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if we could land\Nminiature Versailles on top of that,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.45,0:09:40.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and connect these buildings\Nby a beautiful greenbelt --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.93,0:09:43.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause) --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.86,0:09:47.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this place where people\Nnever wanted to be
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.32,0:09:49.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would become an important destination
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.78,0:09:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for folk from all over\Nthe country and world.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.03,0:09:56.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some ways, it feels\Nvery much like I'm a potter,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.81,0:10:00.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we tackle the things\Nthat are at our wheel,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.22,0:10:02.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we try with the skill that we have
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.49,0:10:07.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think about this next bowl\Nthat I want to make.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.03,0:10:11.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it went from a bowl to a singular\Nhouse to a block to a neighborhood
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.93,0:10:14.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a cultural district\Nto thinking about the city,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.62,0:10:18.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and at every point, there were things\Nthat I didn't know that I had to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.71,0:10:21.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've never learned so much\Nabout zoning law in my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.75,0:10:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never thought I'd have to.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.53,0:10:26.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as a result of that, I'm finding\Nthat there's not just room
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.49,0:10:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for my own artistic practice,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.23,0:10:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's room for a lot of other\Nartistic practices.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.80,0:10:33.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So people started asking us,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.38,0:10:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, Theaster, how are you\Ngoing to go to scale?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.85,0:10:37.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, "What's your sustainability plan?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.99,0:10:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.74,0:10:46.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what I found was that\NI couldn't export myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.62,0:10:50.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that what seems necessary\Nin cities like Akron, Ohio,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.36,0:10:52.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Detroit, Michigan, and Gary, Indiana,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.96,0:10:56.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that there are people in those places\Nwho already believe in those places,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.65,0:10:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are already dying\Nto make those places beautiful,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.58,0:11:03.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that often, those people\Nwho are passionate about a place
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.04,0:11:07.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are disconnected from the resources\Nnecessary to make cool things happen,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.45,0:11:10.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or disconnected from\Na contingency of people
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.03,0:11:11.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that could help make things happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.91,0:11:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now, we're starting to give advice\Naround the country
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.20,0:11:18.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on how to start with what you got,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.34,0:11:21.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to start with the things\Nthat are in front of you,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.14,0:11:23.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to make something out of nothing,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.52,0:11:28.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to reshape your world\Nat a wheel or at your block
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.04,0:11:30.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at the scale of the city.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.53,0:11:32.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you so much.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.22,0:11:38.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.70,0:11:43.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,June Cohen: Thank you. So I think\Nmany people watching this
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.20,0:11:46.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will be asking themselves\Nthe question you just raised at the end:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.41,0:11:48.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can they do this in their own city?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.59,0:11:50.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't export yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.21,0:11:53.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Give us a few pages out of your playbook\Nabout what someone who is inspired
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.88,0:11:56.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about their city can do\Nto take on projects like yours?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.77,0:11:59.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Theaster Gates: One of the things\NI've found that's really important
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.96,0:12:04.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is giving thought to not just\Nthe kind of individual project,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.05,0:12:06.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like an old house,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.85,0:12:09.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what's the relationship\Nbetween an old house,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.72,0:12:12.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a local school, a small bodega,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.88,0:12:15.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and is there some kind of synergy\Nbetween those things?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.87,0:12:18.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can you get those folk talking?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.17,0:12:22.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've found that in cases\Nwhere neighborhoods have failed,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.72,0:12:24.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they still often have a pulse.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.90,0:12:28.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do you identify the pulse\Nin that place, the passionate people,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:28.36,0:12:31.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then how do you get folk\Nwho have been fighting,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.37,0:12:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,slogging for 20 years, reenergized\Nabout the place that they live?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.76,0:12:38.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so someone has to do that work.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:38.22,0:12:42.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I were a traditional developer,\NI would be talking about buildings alone,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.49,0:12:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then putting\Na "For Lease" sign in the window.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.44,0:12:49.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think that you actually\Nhave to curate more than that,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.09,0:12:51.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there's a way in which\Nyou have to be mindful about,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.78,0:12:54.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what are the businesses\Nthat I want to grow here?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.84,0:12:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, are there people\Nwho live in this place
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.28,0:12:59.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who want to grow those businesses with me?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.30,0:13:02.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because I think it's not just\Na cultural space or housing;
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.14,0:13:05.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there has to be the recreation\Nof an economic core.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.18,0:13:08.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So thinking about those things\Ntogether feels right.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.84,0:13:11.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JC: It's hard to get people\Nto create the spark again
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.65,0:13:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when people have been\Nslogging for 20 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.70,0:13:16.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are there any methods you've found\Nthat have helped break through?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.82,0:13:19.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TG: Yeah, I think that now\Nthere are lots of examples
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.78,0:13:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of folk who are doing amazing work,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.62,0:13:26.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but those methods are sometimes like,\Nwhen the media is constantly saying
Dialogue: 0,0:13:26.05,0:13:29.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that only violent things\Nhappen in a place,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.02,0:13:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then based on your skill set\Nand the particular context,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.32,0:13:35.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what are the things that you can do\Nin your neighborhood
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.64,0:13:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to kind of fight some of that?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.76,0:13:40.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I've found that\Nif you're a theater person,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.67,0:13:42.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have outdoor street theater festivals.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.94,0:13:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some cases, we don't have\Nthe resources in certain neighborhoods
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.87,0:13:50.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to do things that are\Na certain kind of splashy,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.21,0:13:53.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but if we can then find ways\Nof making sure that people
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.32,0:13:54.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are local to a place,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.85,0:13:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plus people who could be supportive\Nof the things that are happening locally,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.69,0:14:00.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when those people get together,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.45,0:14:02.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think really amazing things can happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.59,0:14:04.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JC: So interesting.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.07,0:14:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And how can you make sure\Nthat the projects you're creating
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.39,0:14:08.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are actually for the disadvantaged
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.16,0:14:12.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not just for the sort of\Nvegetarian indie movie crowd
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.20,0:14:14.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that might move in\Nto take advantage of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.32,0:14:19.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TG: Right on. So I think this is where\Nit starts to get into the thick weeds.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.36,0:14:21.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JC: Let's go there.\NTG: Right now, Grand Crossing
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.100,0:14:24.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is 99 percent black, or at least living,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.99,0:14:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we know that maybe\Nwho owns property in a place
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.31,0:14:30.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is different from who walks\Nthe streets every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.77,0:14:33.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's reasonable to say\Nthat Grand Crossing is already
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.63,0:14:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the process of being something\Ndifferent than it is today.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.48,0:14:43.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But are there ways to think about\Nhousing trusts or land trusts
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.08,0:14:45.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a mission-based development
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.52,0:14:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that starts to protect\Nsome of the space that happens,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.28,0:14:52.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because when you have\N7,500 empty lots in a city,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.60,0:14:54.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you want something to happen there,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.55,0:14:59.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you need entities that are not\Njust interested in the development piece,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.06,0:15:02.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but entities that are interested\Nin the stabilization piece,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.14,0:15:05.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I feel like often the developer piece\Nis really motivated,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.65,0:15:09.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the other work of a kind\Nof neighborhood consciousness,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.02,0:15:10.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that part doesn't live anymore.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.99,0:15:15.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how do you start to grow up\Nimportant watchdogs
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.80,0:15:18.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that ensure that the resources\Nthat are made available
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.52,0:15:19.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to new folk that are coming in
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.95,0:15:23.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are also distributed to folk\Nwho have lived in a place for a long time.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.35,0:15:25.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JC: That makes so much sense.\NOne more question:
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.96,0:15:30.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You make such a compelling case for beauty\Nand the importance of beauty and the arts.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.00,0:15:33.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There would be others who would argue\Nthat funds would be better spent
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.28,0:15:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on basic services for the disadvantaged.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.48,0:15:40.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do you combat that viewpoint,\Nor come against it?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.19,0:15:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TG: I believe that beauty \Nis a basic service.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:42.69,0:15:48.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.33,0:15:54.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Often what I have found is that\Nwhen there are resources
Dialogue: 0,0:15:54.17,0:15:57.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that have not been made available\Nto certain under-resourced cities
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.63,0:15:59.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or neighborhoods or communities,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.69,0:16:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that sometimes culture is the thing\Nthat helps to ignite,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:04.40,0:16:07.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that I can't do everything,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.04,0:16:10.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I think that there's a way in which\Nif you can start with culture
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.44,0:16:13.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and get people kind of\Nreinvested in their place,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.42,0:16:17.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other kinds of adjacent\Namenities start to grow,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:17.69,0:16:21.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then people can make a demand\Nthat's a poetic demand,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:21.64,0:16:26.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the political demands that\Nare necessary to wake up our cities,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:26.88,0:16:28.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they also become very poetic.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:28.65,0:16:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,JC: It makes perfect sense to me.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.56,0:16:33.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Theaster, thank you so much\Nfor being here with us today.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:33.22,0:16:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. Theaster Gates.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.48,0:16:39.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)