David Bowie Is

This might sound absurd, but something about this trip clicked for me in the David Bowie exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum.

The curators essentially pose this theory that Bowie wasn’t a genius because he came up with incredible ideas out of nowhere. Rather, his genius came from his ability to take inspiration from tons of places, cut up and remix them in original ways, and create something new.

That’s essentially what #uonyc2018 is about. Instead of looking at one source, one great agency or inspiring creative leader, and trying to imitate or build a career in their image, we have the privilege to see lots of different ways to “do advertising.” This week I saw creativity through the lens of established and highly-awarded agencies, up and coming agencies, student award shows, badass alumni, The United Nations, murals on the street, museum exhibits, and the city itself. By drawing on so many different sources, I can consider many points of view, take lessons from many places, and ultimately, like Bowie, make of it something that has never been made before.

Hannah Lewman 05.13.2018