DPH Volunteer Training Day 2024

The Art of Perception: See What Matters is a keynote presentation that engages professionals working in emergency response and disaster preparedness and uses works of art as tools to enhance their assessment, communication, and critical response skills. In a highly participatory, fast moving, and visual presentation, participants will assess their own perception and communication skills when exchanging critical information in a demanding environment. Specifically designed to address the abilities necessary to communicate concisely and effectively, enhance visual acuity, and shift situational awareness, the presentation uses paintings, sculptures, and photographs to dismantle biases and long-held assumptions that impede collective decision making and diminish effective response. The overarching objective of The Art of Perception is to provide attendees—individually and collectively—with a renewed sense of critical inquiry and self-perception that will be instrumental in developing their problem-solving strategies, crisis management skills, and, most importantly, more effective, and successful communication.


About Amy: 
Amy Herman, a lawyer and art historian, uses works of art to sharpen observation, analysis, and communication skills. By showing people how to look closely at painting, sculpture, and photography, she helps them hone their visual intelligence to recognize the most pertinent and useful information as well as recognize biases that impede decision making. She developed her Art of Perception seminar in 2000 to improve medical students’ observation and communication skills with their patients when she was the Head of Education at The Frick Collection in New York City. She subsequently adapted the program for a wide range of professionals and leads sessions internationally for the New York City Police Department, the FBI, the French National Police, the Department of Defense, Interpol, the State Department, Fortune 500 companies, first responders, retailers, and the military. In her highly participatory presentation, she demonstrates the necessity for astute visual literacy and how the analysis of works of art affords participants an innovative way to refresh their sense of critical inquiry and skills necessary for sharper performance and effective leadership. The program has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The CBS Evening News, and Smithsonian Magazine, among others. Her TED talk, A Lesson on Looking, went live in December 2018. Ms. Herman holds an A.B., a J.D., and an M.A. in art history. Her book, Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life, was published in May 2016 and was on both the New York Times and Washington Post best sellers’ lists. Her second book, Fixed: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem- Solving was published in December 2021. Her third book, smART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain, was published in October 2022.