About this talk
According to visual artist and entrepreneur Jennifer Chenoweth, “A city isn’t just land, streets, and buildings, but places overlaid with the diverse history of many people.” In one of her most recent projects, XYZ Atlas, Jennifer captured the many stories of the people living in and visiting the city of Austin, Texas—from joyful encounters to traumatic events. In compiling and mapping these emotional accounts, Jennifer created a collective hedonic history for the community and then shared it as a tool for inspiration, connection, and social change. Tune in to Jennifer’s 2017 TEDMED Talk to see how questions such as “Where did you fall in love?” and “Where did you experience disgust?” are creatively and meaningfully expressed across a community.
About Jennifer Chenoweth
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Jennifer Chenoweth is a visual artist and entrepreneur who creates art that explores the emotional life of communities. She is best known for her project, the XYZ Atlas, which is a “hedonic map” that shows the feelings and experiences of people in Austin, Texas. By asking residents where they had their most significant emotional moments, she created a unique visual map of the city’s heart and soul. Jennifer believes that art can be a powerful tool for social change and connection. Her projects often blur the lines between art and data, using community input to create pieces that have both beauty and meaning. Her work has expanded beyond Austin to include projects in places like Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, where she worked with residents to highlight the town’s beauty and history. Today, Jennifer continues to create art and works as a consultant, helping other organizations and communities use art for social good. Her unique approach, which combines visual design with community engagement, allows her to transform personal stories and data into art that inspires and connects people.
