Reimagining our Relationship to Creation

“Art shows us back to ourselves, and the best art doesn’t flinch or look away. Rather, it acknowledges the complexity of struggles like poverty, weariness, and grief while defiantly holding forth beauty–reminding us that beauty is both scarce and everywhere we look.” –Russ Ramsey

All of us, at one time or another have felt the nagging sense that the world we encounter today is not as it should be. And yet, what the world should be and how to get there often remain elusive. We are left to dwell in the tension of acknowledging our fractured world while hoping for its healing. 

In Jewish thought, this healing is called Tikkun Olam or “the repairing of the world.” Traditionally, Tikkun Olam is a call to act out what is good and right for the betterment not only of one’s own society but for the whole of humanity. What is surprising about this concept is that it can be, at the same time, a grand ideal of renewal, and also an everyday call to personal responsibility. 

Upside Down Gallery is inviting UCLA student artists to explore Tikkun Olam creatively. We are looking for art which grapples with our current moment of brokenness and reflects the overlooked possibilities of hope hidden in unexpected places.