The Endless Horizons of Art
How a journey of cultural studies led to a move to Italy and a fresh look at what art really is
Art appreciation has been a lifelong passion for me, as it is for most of you. I make sure art is involved in every day’s activities. Now it just comes naturally. It’s a powerful lifestyle, and it’s exciting. Let me tell you how that transition happened.
Of Course Your Work is in Art
My background is very diverse- aviation, business, and social sciences- but what ties them all together is the cultural element. It’s always been “the art of aviation”, “business culture”, and “society’s customs”. I work in STEAM fields. The “A” is for Art, and it is a necessary part of STEM education and work.
The cultural element is the most important part of business and society, of science and life. It’s why we do what we do. It’s the core of how we are as a community. Culture defines our individuality because we use and break customs to define ourselves. So Arts and Culture references are endless. We can view things from this vantage point to understand our world better. I love that philosophy.
A couple of years ago, I was working in logistics and doing deep dives into supply chain and global operations. These things depend on symmetry and timing. It’s a captivating dance. Coincidentally, I was simultaneously researching aesthetics. Just as I was considering an advanced degree in the philosophy of aesthetics, an opportunity arose to study Arts and Culture in Italy. I took that path and it has expanded my appreciation for the arts even more.
Rekindling the Scholar’s Flame
As with any higher level education program, my course was best used as a springboard for advanced self study and tangential research. I spent a year studying with students from all over the world who had backgrounds in art history, theater management, cultural events, government-level event management, curation, video production, education, and psychology, among other fields. They were creatives and leaders. They ignited my curiosity and directly contributed to my education. I learned as much from them as I did from my own research, which was extensive. Coming in at a distant third was the actual programming of the school. What it lacked in depth was made up for in location. In Rome, one is never far from the arts. It’s immersive.
As with anything- you get out of it what you put into it. So I’m happy to say that my overall experience was incredibly rich. My program was too short to create an expert in any one particular field of Art and Culture, but it was diverse enough to introduce me to fields I hadn’t yet explored. We touched on filmmaking, gallery management, theater warehousing, large-scale international cultural events, and publishing, to name a few. That led to projects in the culinary arts, the wellness arts, event production, storytelling, and public speaking.
Unveiling Artistry: A Year of Triumphs in Arts and Culture Management
I didn’t think we could accomplish much in just one year. Now that I look back on it, I can see how each event and class and project developed into a well-rounded experience in the domain of Arts and Culture. This non-comprehensive list of highlights from the year of research and exploration don’t include the additional studies we did on art history, artistic scholarship, cultural heritage as a global necessity, cultural project management, strategy and economics in the arts, the music industry, artist management, film and TV, the frontiers of art, AI and digital art, and other areas of Arts and Culture traditions. But since I’m often asked what my year in the Arts and Culture Management masters program looked like, here are many of the actionable undertakings I’m proud to have accomplished.
Scripted, casted, and filmed a commercial for an international school
Built a job and HR job description for an innovative atelier in the creative sector
Invented a cultural event for the ultra-elite, focused on the well-being sector
Designed an art gallery concept with modified business plan
Developed a screenplay
Presented a life story at open-mic storytelling night
Went behind the scenes at an opera house
Focused on preserving cultural heritage in times of war, natural disaster, and emergencies
Led a weekly yoga class
Formed an Italian study group meetup
Learned to make pasta and hosted a culinary cultural event with food from around the world
Presented an international cultural event in long-form narrative
Created an innovative exhibit concept for a technologically forward architectural exhibit at a renowned international modern art museum
Presented a concept for a Netflix series hosted by a celebrity fashion icon
Selected for storytelling bootcamp at a military nonprofit arts program
Created focused commentary on fashion as an identity in cultural studies
While most of these achievements were classroom related, about a third were from side research, outside initiatives, and self-created or community-organized ventures. And that’s the interesting thing about art. It has the disposition of leading to other adventures.
Summiting the Craft: The Capstone Project
By far the most important outcome of this masters program was the capstone project. After the acute education and intriguing introduction to multiple genres of Arts and Culture, we embarked upon a creative concept of our own making. Choosing any field, any topic, or any research analysis to capitalize on the education in Arts and Culture management was a daunting task. The sheer scope of this field is daunting, and the responsibility to create a business or contribute to the field is weighty. Fortunately I had good partners.
I worked with two women who shared an interest in the mysterious aspects of Arts and Culture. We loved the idea of helping to educate others in the arts, especially those who lacked previous exposure to the arts or were intimidated by the seemingly endless array of cultural history, art venues, or importance of various art pieces. Where should one even start?
Where to Begin
We started with a simple question: What is art? And our answer: Art is the ultimate flex of human creativity.
Who We Are
Next we introduced ourselves so the audience would understand where we were coming from.
“Nechama Hermon, an Arts & Culture specialist hailing from Austria, is an art historian with an unwavering commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Her extensive knowledge of Jewish history, multicultural traditions, and international arts has taken her across Europe. Having worked in prestigious auction houses, museums, and restoration studios, Nechama's unique strength lies in her ability to share a visionary perspective that transcends boundaries.
From Italy comes Ashley Ludwig, the executive coordinator who fuses her expertise in psychology, mental wellbeing, and creative community planning with her passion for the arts. With a remarkable track record in events, public relations, and educational management, Ashles has collaborated with top-level executives to drive transformational training and foster cultural and social change. Her exceptional strength lies in her boundless creativity, which fuels her commitment to building inclusive and vibrant communities.
Completing this dynamic trio is Dr. Bethany Miller, a seasoned consultant and coach based in the United States but living nomadically. With a Ph.D. and a diverse background in management, logistics, aviation, and the arts, Bethany's expertise spans multiple sectors. After a successful career as a pilot, she transitioned into advising and project development, leveraging her exceptional organizational skills to bring structure and efficiency to the world of arts and cultural projects. Bethany's strength lies in her ability to orchestrate complex endeavors with precision and finesse.”
Igniting the Educational Initiative
Like any good scientific research team, we started with a survey. We widely circulated questions (formally, analytically, and systematically) about one’s level of comfort with the world of Arts and Culture. After analyzing the data, we knew we had a great project ahead of us.
We decided it was imperative that we speak to the young adults coming up in the world. They must be excited about arts and culture in order to understand life, have great creativity, and feel welcome in various cultural settings. To do this, we use clear and colloquial language (English only…for now…). We tried to be open and approachable with our materials.
First came the launch of our website. We created Boundaryless Art. The website is a collection of places to go to learn about Arts and Culture: websites, books, museums, events, podcasts, influencers, etc. It’s a hunt-and-poke type of operation. We encourage wonder. We invite cross-referencing and educational opportunities. We incite exploration. We want to be a BFF to young people for the world of art.
Next we used social media to highlight and engage. Saluting and sharing the work of others is a communal way to engage and inspire. And that’s all we wanted to do. Starting the conversation is a fantastic first step in education.
Finally we wrote and published two books. One is a paperback written with Bionic Reading font. This font is often used for people with reading difficulties, dyslexia, speed readers, or other attention special needs. We thought this was important for a wide variety of audiences, for easier processing of sometimes expansive material, and for the pure joy of reading quickly. To be fair, this book is also heavy with art education, art history, and complex Arts and Culture themes. In the end, we’re proud to have produced a first-rate primer for arts education. The second book is a graphically-heavy digital book. It’s aesthetically pleasing and the short clips cover 50 cultural events around the world. Together, the two books will increase anyone’s Arts and Culture familiarity.
Here are the two books:
Boundaryless Art - The Book
“Our new art book, "Boundaryless Art", is a comprehensive collection of art world information, from art history to recent masterpieces. The book includes information on art world scandals, different types of art, and guidance for art galleries and museum visits.
"Boundaryless Art" is a must-have for any fan of the art world. It is a beautiful and inspiring book that will transport you to the world of beauty, history, inspiration, and creativity.
Plus, it's written with Bionic Reading font. So it's super easy to read, digest, and understand. BOOM!”
WTF? (What The Fresco?)
“Our new art e-book, "WTF?", is a sassy, short, sharp, slick e-book telling you all about the most famous global cultural events and art jargon. We're here to pump you up about Arts & Culture- even if you've never been to a museum, heard of the Mona Lisa, or watched Tom Cruise run in a movie.
By the way, "WTF?" stands for "What The Fresco?" in case you were wondering. 🙄
This e-book features 50 of the hottest events you must know about! Don't get FOMO- download this now.”
Beyond the Institution: Arts and Culture Flowing into Everyday Life
Now that I’ve graduated, I find that art has become a daily and integral part of my life and work. My husband and I travel full time. We make it a priority to see the museums and artistic events in our adventures, but we also have different conversations about what it means to be a community, have spirituality, work with purpose, and love our family and friends. These are cultural discussions. They are centered on history, aesthetics, meaning, and artfulness.
Here are some of the external ways art is part of my daily life, moreso now than previously:
Reading and watching art - I frequent various art newsletters, websites, critiques, news stories, books, and videos. I’m more inspired and eager to learn about Art and Culture.
Making art - I’ve spent more time doodling, painting, drawing, and writing over the past year. I’ve taken several informal art classes and expanded my range of creativity. (Soon we’ll discuss that screenplay I wrote!)
Visiting art - I routinely make intentional visits to museums, galleries, and workshops. These aren’t just entertainment, they’re essential parts of my time allocation every day.
Looking for art - Finding art in unexpected places is my new scavenger hunt. Random graffiti? Check! Thoughtful display of pastries at the coffee shop? Check! Symmetry in a park or restaurant or website layout? Check! Well defined architectural artistic period? Check! Literature techniques like alliteration, metaphor, or allegory? Check!
Finally, here are some of the internal ways Arts and Culture are essential pieces of my life:
Symbology and design are always under scrutiny. Does that store inspire me to shop there with its display, or do I notice another merchant nearby? Was this meal prepared with love and is the cuisine a craft or only a way to fill my stomach? Is there a pattern in the earth or church or crowd? What does that tree or butterfly or bread mean in a painting or in real life?
Music and food and story are essential parts of communication and self-identity. I can better understand people based on these components or because of these elements.
Art is one of the best forms of therapy and expression we have in this world.
Cultural expression is something I look for in people. Who are you? What you wear and participate in and eat and pay attention to tells me a lot about who people are or who they want to be.