Pedal steel guitar vs. nuclear missile | Nate Hofer | TEDxKC

Can beauty defeat the war machine? Can we détente again? In this poetic, personal meditation, artist Nate Hofer's music, photography, and storytelling transcend "the new Cold War" to create hope and—for a few peaceful minutes—a place where old ideas can die beautifully. Nate Hofer is an artist blending photography and music. Born in Nigeria to Mennonite conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War, his art reflects a deep commitment to peace. Inspired by his Cold War upbringing in the Midwest, Nate explores issues of arms control and disarmament through aerial photography of decommissioned missile silos and solo ambient performances on the pedal steel guitar. His work has been recognized with awards like the 2021 Global Peace Photo Award and membership to the Atomic Photographer's Guild. Nate's 2024 debut album EP, "Decommissioned" recorded in a former Kansas missile silo, has garnered recent national attention on NPR. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx