John Brown

Illustration by Kinari Council

GRAMMY-nominated musician and Duke Arts Vice Provost, John Brown, is optimistic about the future and he tells us why:

You mentioned that what divides us vanishes when we share experiences in art. What is it about art that brings us together? 

Emotions know no lines of division. When we feel happiness, sadness, pain or joy, we all feel those emotions as human beings, and that is valid and valuable in and of itself. Art is an avenue for us to connect with others who feel similarly, and for us to find kinship and connection with those who have felt what we have felt. Art gives us permission to feel, permission to express, and gives us a vehicle to share our emotions and experience them with others. 

Who is making a great impact in art right now?

Some of them are Janet Rollé, Terence Blanchard, Tania León, Mario Moore, Lisette Oropesa, Misty Copeland, Denzel Washington, Maria Schneider and Lizzo. 

The last documentary film you watched? 

“Something to Live For” - the first comprehensive documentary portrait of the legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald. 

Who or what made you laugh out loud recently?

 LOL. A hilarious practical joke I saw on Tik Tok.   

2022 is ______________.

Inspiring. I am motivated to use the beginning of the new year as a moment to remind people of light and positivity, of strength and resilience, and of the power art has to hold us, keep us, heal us, and bring out the best in humanity. 2022 is going to be a year full of joy, hope, optimism, and achievement of the human spirit. 

Special Thanks to Duke Arts for sponsoring this interview.