A Deceptively Simple Way to Rebuild Trust in Scary Times

Summary

Podcast Summary: "A Deceptively Simple Way to Rebuild Trust in Scary Times"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Opinions
• Host/Author: The New York Times Opinion
• Description: One voice, one opinion, in 10 minutes or less.
• Episode: A Deceptively Simple Way to Rebuild Trust in Scary Times
• Release Date: January 8, 2025

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Introduction

In the January 8, 2025 episode of The Opinions, hosted by The New York Times Opinion, Wendy McNaughton, an artist and graphic journalist, introduces a compelling initiative aimed at fostering human connection in an era marked by division and uncertainty. Titled "A Deceptively Simple Way to Rebuild Trust in Scary Times," the episode delves into McNaughton's innovative project, "Draw Together," exploring its impact on individuals and communities.

The 'Draw Together' Project

Wendy McNaughton begins by describing her project, "Draw Together," which involves setting up tables and chairs in bustling public spaces like the High Line in New York City. The setup is simple yet profound: McNaughton invites strangers to sit across from each other and draw each other's portraits in just 60 seconds.

“My whole premise of my work is that drawing is looking and looking is loving...” (01:12)

By facilitating this brief, intimate interaction, McNaughton aims to break down barriers and encourage people to see and appreciate each other as fellow humans.

Engaging the Public

The podcast captures the dynamic atmosphere as McNaughton and her collaborator, Eugene, approach passersby to participate. Their approach is both inviting and slightly theatrical, likened to a "circus barker" (02:24), which effectively draws in diverse participants.

“Can I grab you for 60 seconds? I love it.” (02:38)

Participants of varying ages and backgrounds engage in the exercise, highlighting the universal desire for connection. For instance, a man sharing that he is adjusting to fatherhood expresses how the activity helps him connect better with his children (04:10).

Impact and Insights

McNaughton reflects on the broader societal implications of her project. She notes the increasing wealth disparity in the San Francisco Bay Area and how it has led to people becoming more guarded and less willing to connect with strangers.

“When we make eye contact with people, we are seeing somebody. We are saying to somebody, I see you, you exist, I exist.” (05:14)

This act of making eye contact and engaging in a shared creative process can lay a strong foundation for rebuilding trust and fostering community. McNaughton emphasizes that such simple interactions are powerful tools for restoring the social fabric, especially in times of fear and uncertainty.

Overcoming Fear Through Connection

The conversation highlights the psychological barriers that prevent people from reaching out and connecting. McNaughton argues that while staying within familiar circles may feel safe, it ultimately leads to the erosion of community ties.

“Our communities are crumbling as a result of it... just sitting down and drawing with somebody for 60 seconds can actually lay an incredibly strong foundation of connection.” (05:48)

This perspective underscores the necessity of taking small, deliberate actions to reconnect with others, thereby strengthening communal bonds and trust.

Conclusion

Wendy McNaughton's "Draw Together" project exemplifies how simple, intentional actions can have profound effects on individual relationships and broader societal trust. By encouraging strangers to engage in a fleeting but meaningful exchange, the project fosters empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity. McNaughton's vision is not only a testament to the power of art and creativity but also a blueprint for rebuilding connections in an increasingly fragmented world.

Notable Moments:

• 00:34-00:48: Introduction of the podcast and episode theme.
• 01:12: McNaughton explains her multidisciplinary background and the essence of "Draw Together."
• 03:35-04:10: Guidelines for the drawing exercise and participant reflections.
• 05:14: McNaughton’s insight on the significance of eye contact and connection.
• 05:48: Discussion on the societal impact of her project.

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Opinions serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of human connection. In leveraging art as a medium for interaction, Wendy McNaughton provides listeners with both inspiration and a practical approach to fostering trust and community in challenging times.

Transcript

[Wendy McNaughton]

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[Unknown Host]

This is the Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times opinion. You've heard the news. Here's what to make of it.

[Eugene]

Well, we're standing on the High Line. It's a ton of people going by and we're carrying two folding chairs, a table and sign. A sign that says draw Together. It just takes one minute.

[Wendy McNaughton]

I'm Wendy McNaughton. I'm an artist, I'm a graphic journalist, and I'm trained as a social worker. I ask people who don't know each other to sit down and look at each other.

[Eugene]

A draw together strangers thing where I'm asking strangers, people who have never met each other before sit across the table and draw each other for 60 seconds. Except, like with I've done it in.

[Wendy McNaughton]

Several different cities in different locations. So in San Francisco, downtown, in Golden Gate Park, I went to downtown Los Angeles, also in New York City, Washington Square park and the High Line. My whole premise of my work is that drawing is looking and looking is loving. And I can talk, you know, for like half an hour on a stage or whatever about it. But if I give somebody the opportunity for one minute to do it, they actually experience it. And I think that's how people can change.

[Eugene]

So I think people are, if you ask somebody, would you do this? They'd say no. But once you give somebody the opportunity to like sit down and connect with somebody like this, it's almost like people are craving it.

[Wendy McNaughton]

So recently when we set it up kind of on the side of the walkway of the High Line, so there was plenty of space for people to walk by, but it was close enough that folks got curious about what was going on.

[Eugene]

Hold on a second. Hi. Can I interest any of you in drawings?

[Wendy McNaughton]

And after setting up, I mean, I just go into like circus barker mode.

[Eugene]

Oh, oh, 60 seconds.

[Wendy McNaughton]

That positive attitude might be a little bit contagious. I can get people to come and sit down.

[Eugene]

Can I grab you for 60 seconds? I love it.

[Wendy McNaughton]

Have a seat all different sorts of people end up sitting across from each other. Sometimes people are from different places. What's your name?

[Anjalika]

Anjalika.

[Eugene]

And where are you from? Poland. Right on. And what's your name?

[Wendy McNaughton]

Danny.

[Eugene]

Danny, where are you from?

[Anjalika]

Aziz.

[Eugene]

I'm from Kuwait. Here's one example where? Jeffrey. Nice to meet you, Jeffrey.

[Wendy McNaughton]

Hey, my name's Wendy.

[Eugene]

What's your name? Juana. Juana, nice to meet you. She gans there was a.

[Wendy McNaughton]

A young girl, she was probably 11 or 12 years old, and she was drawing with a man who, I'm not sure, maybe he was in his, like 40s or 50s.

[Eugene]

Ready? Two rules. First rule, you're never allowed to lift your pen up off the paper. You are going to draw one continuous line. One continuous line. Rule number two, you can never, ever look down at the paper you're drawing on. Now look up at each other. You're just gonna do it for 60 seconds, all right? Choose where you're gonna start. On your partner's face. Take a deep breath in.

[Unknown Participant]

Can't look down.

[Eugene]

Nope. I'll see you do it and I'll call you out. Breathe out and begin drawing. 3, 2, 1, start.

[Wendy McNaughton]

They drew for 60 seconds and then I asked them how that experience was for them.

[Eugene]

3, 2, 1, stop. And look down at your masterpieces, please. Oh my gosh, they're so great. Oh, they're fantastic. Can you please lift them up and show each other your gorgeous drawings?

[Wendy McNaughton]

And the man said that he was very moved by it because he's a.

[Unknown Participant]

New father, kind of a new father. I have two year old kids at home. Never really had association with younger people before and wanna, like, now that I'm a father, I respect the childhood and going through and kind of like connect with my kids.

[Wendy McNaughton]

So those kinds of connections also across ages can be very meaningful. I live in the San Francisco Bay area where there has been an increasing wealth disparity that has just grown and grown over the past, you know, 15 years or so. And it's really made it so that I think people are afraid to look at one another. I think that when we look at people, we see them as humans and there's a connection and there's a shared responsibility. There's like an interdependence that's implied with that and it's really powerful and I think a lot of positive things come from it. But in really complicated times, when people are feeling scared and when people are feeling helpless, I think to make eye contact with people can feel overwhelming. It can be scary. People might just want to stay with who we know out of a sense of fear. I personally think that's the wrong approach. I think that when we make eye contact with people, we are seeing somebody. We are saying to somebody, I see you, you exist, I exist. And we're existing on this street together. That's an opening for a connection. And that connection is what our society is based, like all societies are based on. It's what communities are.

[Eugene]

Right.

[Wendy McNaughton]

So if we're not looking at each other, I understand that it's out of these places. That might be self preservation, but I think that our communities are crumbling as a result of it. And as silly as it might seem, just sitting down and drawing with somebody for 60 seconds can actually lay an incredibly strong foundation of connection that I think can help rebuild trust and communities. I think there's a place for, like, art and experience in a more public setting in a very accessible way that gives people the opportunity to engage with art and creativity in a way that benefits our hearts and our souls.

[Eugene]

We've been here for a couple hours. A bunch of strangers just met each other for the first time, sat down at a table and drew each other for 60 seconds. But what they really did was, was they slowed down and connected and looked at each other in a way that strangers just generally don't.

[Wendy McNaughton]

I carry the table and the two chairs, like, on a luggage rolling cart. So I kind of look like I'm setting up, like, a religious tract station, and I look like I'm like, a proselytizer. The ironic thing is I kind of am. It's just that my religion is connection and community, and I would love it if other people would, like, join in and go out and proselytize along with me and set up these stations all over the world so that people could look at each other.

[Eugene]

Thanks. Thanks, Eugene. That was really fun. Have a good trip.

[Wendy McNaughton]

Bye.

[Unknown Host]

If you like this show, follow it on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show is produced by Derek Arthur, Sofia Alvarez, Boyd, Vishaka Durba, Phoebe Lett, Christina Samulewski, and Gillian Weinberger. It's edited by Kari Pitkin, Allison Bruzek and Annie Rose Strasser. Engineering, mixing, and original music by Isaac Jones, sonia Herrero, Pat McCusker, Carol Saburo, and Afim Shapiro. Additional music by Amin Sahota. The Fact Check team is Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker, and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta, Christina Samulewski, and Adrian Rivera. The executive producer of Times Opinion Audio is Annie Rose Dresser.