Book Launch Celebration | Why the Arts Matter

Join OXY ARTS in celebrating the launch of Why The Arts Matter: How Art Shapes Our Thinking, Identity, and Wellbeing by Occidental College Professors Aleksandra Sherman and Clair Morrissey. 

The evening will feature a brief book talk, Q&A, and invitations to engage in meaningful ways with the current exhibition at OXY ARTS. Reception with light hors d'oeuvres and drinks to follow. 

Why The Arts Matter Book Description

The arts are many things: a source of entertainment, an industry, and even in some cases a luxury item or status symbol. In this book, a philosopher and a cognitive scientist argue that, most foundationally, the arts are fundamental to who we are, a source of transformation and transcendence. Drawing on real-world examples – from visual art and poetry, to music and performance – they offer a powerful framework for understanding how art engagement fosters intellectual growth and emotional insight. Each chapter features thought-provoking artworks that invite readers to reflect on their own experiences and grapple with essential questions about empathy, creativity, and what it means to live well. Rich in scholarship yet grounded in everyday relevance, this work offers fresh ways to think about the role of the arts in both individual and collective life. It offers the perfect jumping-off point for anyone curious about how the arts shape our minds.