“Getting Creative: Art, Emotion, and Expression in American Politics,” A L’Enfant Salon

Reap a bountiful harvest of ideas and creative expressions as we explore the politics of art and the art of politics at our next L’Enfant Salon. Joining us to share their work and thoughts are a dynamic trio of DC politicos with a passion for art:

Camille Lepire, lobbyist and visual artist whose passion for creative and spiritual discovery has coalesced around a signal truth–that “art is the purest form of self-expression.” In this light we will discuss how self-expression in art relates to free expression in politics, and how censorship thus becomes one of the core problems of both social life and constitutional law.

Evan Williams, policy director and lifelong musician who aims to bring some “emotion to an emotionless world.” Not that the workaday world of governance is without excitement of course! But he will share how music can be an expressive outlet from the more constrained, and calculating environments of public service. He will be performing, so yes his colleagues are invited..

Christine Carlson, foreign affairs officer whose work in religious freedom and human rights calls for imaginative approaches to cultural conflict that are not easily expressed in textbook form. Just in time for Halloween, she will flesh out some thoughts on how sacred art can illuminate the political monsters that haunt us, and offer a vision of diplomacy very much in the spirit of the season.

Reception to follow.