At a time when so much feels contested, this series asks a different question:
We intend to use care to openly explore the intersection of diverse perspectives. We aim to understand how we got so polarized and how we can create a depolarized society with more mutuality and connectedness.
“They’re trying to take away our freedoms.”
That posture tends to lead to defensiveness or aggression — people focus on who the enemy is, rather than what they value. By contrast, when we ask “What is worth protecting?” — and especially when we frame it emotionally, like a couples therapist might — we shift people into a mindset of attachment and often, loss or grief:
Those are expressions of loss, or fear of loss — not just fear of attack. That’s what I meant by vulnerability:Instead of blaming, the person is revealing what they care about. That kind of disclosure builds trust — and makes meaningful dialogue more possible.
So the prompt “What is worth protecting?” can allow for both: Hope (we can still preserve this), and Grief (we may already be losing it).
Each submission or conversation becomes a mirror — not of someone’s opinion, but of what they care about. And once you see that someone’s anger or defensiveness comes from love or grief, it’s harder to dismiss them outright.This is where Depolarization Institute can really shine: by pairing art and conversation to reveal that we’re often grieving the same things — even if we blame different causes.
Each submission or conversation becomes a mirror — not of someone’s opinion, but of what they care about. And once you see that someone’s anger or defensiveness comes from love or grief, it’s harder to dismiss them outright. This is where Depolarization Institute can really shine: by pairing art and conversation to reveal that we’re often grieving the same things — even if we blame different causes.
Anyone can nominate a visual or narrative work of art via a short form on the With Community site. Submissions must be viewable online. Each nominated piece is featured in a public Art Collection on the Depolarization Institute website. Artists are encouraged to self-nominate.
After you nominate art, you will be invited to to join optional small-group Zoom salons.
These sessions offer a chance to:
Instead of traditional voting, we invite people to engage publicly with the art by sharing and responding on social media. To lift up a piece that resonates:
This kind of response allows us to track not just popularity, but meaningful engagement.
A Selection Team will review social activity, comments, and discussion group insights to identify featured works. Selections will be based on:
Cash and in-kind prizes will be awarded to selected artists and nominators.