Art is Dying

Art graces our lives with the creativity of some of the most talented people we will meet in person, virtually or only through their offerings. Today’s MAD post is dedicated to the artists…and the generation which may be the last to have that grace offered to them at a young age.

When you were in elementary school, did you leave the primary classroom to go to the art room? Bolts of paper. Bins of scissors and hole punches. Clay in every color. No painted surfaces on the walls…all covered in creativity.  Remember it fondly. Your children and grandchildren may never know that room.

Numbers

In terms of a well-rounded education, to leave out the arts is a disservice. Nearly 95% of adults believe the arts are vital to education. Despite those staggering numbers, fewer than 30% of schools maintain payroll and funding for art programs.

Your child spends more time at the locker than in art classes.

Need proof arts really matter? High school students who take four years of arts and music score 100 points higher on the SAT than those who take a semester or less. How much is the coach making again?

Art is good.

When children (and adults) create and appreciate art, they are more tolerant and open to others. They recognize the talent it takes to create beautiful, skilled and thought-provoking art, especially when they discover, hands on, how hard it is. It allows them to appreciate and recognize creative abilities in others.

Any adornment can be art. Jewelry is a artful example.

Art embraces culture and celebrates people and nature. Before man could communicate in words, pictures were the universal language. Cultures are readily identified by their native art. Our history is depicted in millenia old art on every known surface.

Individuality blossoms when art is introduced. Art makes decorative statements in our homes, offices, gathering places and bodies.

Art boosts self-confidence by improving overall academic performance. By tapping into creativity, better problem-solving skills are sharpened. Art can give reference points to history, making it more attractive to students.

Do Something

You can Make A Difference by choosing to create, appreciate or support art. Choose it for yourself, your family, your children, your community…all of you.

Create

Create a piece of art today. Need help with ideas?

  1. Go to a hobby or craft store. Ask someone to help you.
  2. Go to the hardware or DIY center. Look for projects.
  3. Go to the nursery or garden center. Learn about landscaping.
  4. Go to the computer store or surf. Buy an art program.
  5. Go to your child or artistic neighbor. Ask for an idea.
  6. Go to the library or search engine. Read project books

You do not have to be painting or sculpting to be creating art. Inspiration is everywhere. Media is boundless:

You do not have to adhere to tried and true. Use your imagination.

  • Paint
  • Clay
  • Wood
  • Paper
  • Pixels
  • Plants and flowers
  • Fabric
  • Light
  • Pencils, charcoals, pastels, ink

The treatments are only limited by your imagination:

Mosaics can be tile, stone, glass or any other medium.

  • Origami
  • Pruning
  • Air brushing
  • Rendering
  • Carving
  • Ceramics
  • Xylography
  • Quilting
  • Sculpting
  • Papier-mâché

Just to name a few. Have no technique? Sign up for an art class. Bring a buddy or take one for a different age group. If you are a senior, take a young adult class, or vice versa.

Make a family project. Everyone can finger paint. A box of crayons and some construction paper can become anything in the hands of a child. Embrace your inner child.

Appreciate

Visit a museum. Make a date for an art gallery with (Quaint, Sibling, Mate). Find the nearest (or nearest your vacation spot) sculpture garden.

Support

Volunteer for a local art activity at your local school, community center, senior citizen program, veterans’ home or library.

Purchase from a local artist.

Donate art supplies.

Visit art websites. Share links with your friends and family.

Write a letter:

  • To the school district
  • To your local and national legislators
  • To an art instructor

Letters of appreciation for support of the arts go a long way to continuing the argument to fund art programs. Letters to legislators let them know the public supports the arts as a fundamental necessity to education.

Make A Difference

Art touches and changes lives. Its history is longer than the written word. It lets us communicate across borders and time. Art helps us remember our past, our heritage and our culture.

Art should not be relegated to only the wealthy who can afford to offer it to their children. It must remain as part of the public domain and an element in education.

Can you MAD about art? Make a difference by creating, appreciating and supporting art in all forms.


~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever donated a piece of art? Have you ever bid on art in a charity auction? When was the last time you created a piece of art? When was the last time you shared art with a child? Would you write a letter to your legislator to support the arts?

(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2012
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47 Comments

  1. I’ve not been able to draw since I broke my hand hitting a wall rather than a friend who was being an asshole!

    I love art and remember all the pictures I got off the kids as they were growing up.

    Now a new generation is growing and I have a hand made card made for me by Rachel’s daughter Jessica for my birthday! 🙂

    Love and hugs!

    Prenin.
    prenin recently posted..Thursday – voting day.My Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  May 4, 2012

      Ah, the lesson of temper. You may just need to look into different media. I think you would be able to do quite a few things besides just drawing, although, your drawings are extraordinary. {HUGZ} Red.

      Reply
  2. OK Red, I will let you in on a little secret. I have a website http://publicartaroundtheworld.com/ which I work on regularly in the hope people will get excited about all the free art around them. I try to find controversies, scandals etc to get the conversation started. People are now sending in photos to add to the site.
    Friggin Loon recently posted..What A DickMy Profile

    Reply
    • Red

       /  May 4, 2012

      Oh, that is fantastic! *Wanders off to check on something*

      Reply
  3. The schools are so closed minded that sometimes it is even hard to volunteer. They don’t have time for it because they are too busy trying to pass standardized tests to worry about educating the kids.

    Reply
    • Red

       /  May 4, 2012

      I am fearful for the lock down schools. It occurs to me…those who are willing to do the right things are blocked, but those who are up to no good seem to meet with no resistance.

      Reply
  4. Yes we need to express ourselves a lot more, even if it means drawing rubbish drawings and passing them off as artistic and wicked 🙂 lol

    How do you mean what am I blathering on about? 🙂 Well put it this way… Fraz has just found that Genie that he was looking for and guess what? It was on his Island all the time 🙂

    Have a lovely weekend Red and be good, I know you find that increasingly difficult but do try anyway 🙂 😉 lol

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • Red

       /  May 4, 2012

      I need to go by and see what Fraz is up to with his genie. I have quite a bit of catching up to do. Tendrils of IRL still hanging on, so I hope to be ’round before everyone turns in (or goes to work). And I can guarantee, behaving is not on the menu. 😉

      Reply
      • No rush just get back into everything at a slower pace… How are you today, I do hope that you are feeling much better now, and I meant health-wise before you get all naughty on me 😉 🙂 lol

        Androgoth XXx

        Reply
        • Red

           /  May 4, 2012

          I have almost completely shaken feeling ill. The meds were great, but getting active again has been more difficult than I thought it would be. I tire rather easily for the time being. I still prefer to feel with both hands, though 😉

          Reply
          • Yes like I said…
            Tooooo Naughty 🙂 😉 lol

            I am pleased that you are feeling better and don’t worry just get back into the groove at a gentle pace and everything will be alright 🙂

            Androgoth XXx

          • Rest and chocolate.
            Binky recently posted..Foot WalkMy Profile

          • Red

             /  May 4, 2012

            That is an excellent remedy for nearly all that ails.

    • Any cartoon with Fraz in it is excellent by definition! No matter who drew it!
      Binky recently posted..Foot WalkMy Profile

      Reply
      • Red

         /  May 4, 2012

        I think if I did not have such stiff competition for rendering the Wombies amongst my esteemed blogger friends, I might have drawn one or two. I think I had best leave it to the more experienced of the crew.

        Reply
        • Yes I was thinking that too 🙂
          Noooooooo not about you, I
          meant my measely offerings
          but I did enjoy drawing them 🙂

          Have a funtastic evening Red 😉

          Androgoth XXx

          Reply
          • Red

             /  May 8, 2012

            Who knows. Maybe I could try my hand at it. 😉

          • You really should! If you want to, that is. It’s always great to see other people’s versions of the Wombies.
            Binky recently posted..People Are the Same All OverMy Profile

          • Red

             /  May 8, 2012

            Let me get at least three posts in the kitty so I can start to dig out the inbox, and I will give it a whirl.

      • What a very nice thing to say Binky 🙂

        Androgoth

        Reply
  5. I looooved art in high school. Paints, sketches, you name it. I really would like to get back to that again one day. But the writing calls! Great post packed with little tidbits 🙂

    Reply
    • Red

       /  May 5, 2012

      I know you have been tremendously busy, but you need to take a little time for yourself. Even if it is nothing more than a gallery opening wine and cheese social. Or a cuddled up on the couch scrawling of something inside 😉

      Reply
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