In my arts in the city class, we had the opportunity to visit Arts for Humanity, an after school program for students to explore the arts. Focused on changing culture in under resourced areas, Arts for Humanity allows students to gain art training and experience, as well as money for pieces that sells. This was one of my favorite quotes from the building. What if we pushed these concepts in our schools? How could our thinking change about art, collaboration, and community?
Art is a fundamental part of being human. After reading Conversations Before the End of Time by Suzi Gablik, I realized most classrooms (and myself) were guilty of holding a modern western mindset about art—a mindset that viewed art as a luxury rather than a way of life.
When I first read that art was a biological need for humans, I wasn’t sure if I fully agreed. I started thinking of what I have been taught about art in school and what little time we spent in art class. I realized I had a limited understanding of art since I viewed art as something specific: such as painting, coloring, or drawing. I saw art as more of a masterpiece or something hung on the wall, rather than a behavior, mindset, and lifestyle. Although I believed art had the power to transform, change, and hold meaning to human beings; I underestimated the importance of art since I did not see it as fundamental to existence. However, I realized this was because I bought into the idea that art was a thing—rather than a life style. When we start to view art as a behavior, then we start to see art as universally important. Since art is about creating, reflecting, and doing, art is part of reflecting and living a well-lived life.
In your classrooms, do you equivalent art to being human? What ideas about art do you hold and share with your students?
With much love,
-Teachertalk4all