The Kettering Arts Council Member Spotlight: Katie Neubert

Be sure to check out this engaging discussion with Kettering Arts Council Executive Director, Katie Neubert, as she shares her journey, creative inspiration and experiences with the arts below:

Question: What do you like about the arts in Kettering?

“The exciting thing about the arts in Kettering is the long history and commitment to the arts for all! Instead of sitting on a hill away from the public with limited access, Kettering has ensured that the arts has a central home at Rosewood but is available and accessible across the city for all to experience and enjoy. This decades long strategy has built a culture where art surrounds us and is just part of the air that we breathe in Kettering.”

Question: Was there a moment when art changed how you saw the world?

“In high school I took a Soviet Dissident Literature English class and the teacher included artwork throughout the semester. This class really helped me understand that art is so much more than the medium, that it can resonate and impact people differently based on their world experiences and that art was something that could change not just individuals but our world.”

Question: Is there an artist, who deeply influenced you?

“My favorite artwork is by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. One of his artworks, The Fall of Icarus, was mentioned in W.H. Auden’s poem Musee des Beaux Arts, which led me to want to learn more about his work. I actually planned a 4 hour train lay over in Brussels to go to the museum to see The Fall of Icarus which was so much bigger and more detailed in real life than I had ever imagined. I even had the opportunity after asking a question to have a museum docent walk me back to the picture and give me a 30 minute impromptu lesson on my favorite artwork while standing in front of it.

This artist repeatedly came back to the indifference of everyday life and at the same time elevated the value of those everyday moments.”

Question: What art form do you wish you had more time to explore?

“At We Care Arts, our mission is to empower healing through art and community for adults living with developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and mental health diagnoses. Too often, our artist-clients are defined by their diagnoses rather than their creativity and what they contribute to our community. I share that because, as Executive Director, much of my time is spent in meetings, managing financials and planning events. In short, my role is about keeping the lights on while bringing our mission to life. That pace can pull me away from the very heart of our work.

The art form I wish I had more time to explore is the work our artist-clients create. Our annual curriculum gives them space to share their talents and their unique perspectives through art. When I carve out time to be in the classrooms while they are creating, I get to learn about their interests and the stories behind each piece. For me, it is the process as much as the final product. Being present while art is being made, witnessing expression, growth, and connection in real time, is the form and beauty of art I wish I had more time to experience and enjoy.”

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This post originally appeared on The City of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department Website.