Salt Lake City - I read a story today in the newspaper about an art education program that some schools are introducing. I also reflected by to my own school days in the 1950's and 1960s. In my day, we had several "field trips" to this small art gallery by the UofU. We walked among the small exhibit and when back in the classroom the teacher would ask us what we saw. In my art studies class in 8th grade, we learned the academic elements of the various styles of art, cubism, impressionism, classical, etc. But we really never learned about the beauty of art nor the emotion of the art. At the college level art class you would explore this side of art.
What I have come to learn over the years is that art is everywhere. It is in the spoken word, in every photo snapped, every video taken, every painting created, every sculpture crafted, every text written and even beyond. There is art in the natural world around us, not just majestic landscapes, but the dirty alley behind the thrift shop downtown, the homeless person huddled in the doorway of a closed business, the beautiful building rising up to the sky, it is everywhere we look. And that is what is missing in our children's art education.
Art develops critical thinking by examining what one sees, reads, or hears. Art is literature, plays, dance, music, movies, and much more. Art also develops interpretive skills, what is the artist saying, is there meaning or maybe the point is no meaning at all. ART IS EMOTION! Art is part of language and communication.
Art is as important an education topic as math, science, reading and writing. Art can include all the other disciplines and an excellent way to show how integral they are.
The world today is much more complicated and competitive than ever before. Our children need an education that will prepare them for this new reality.
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