Art: We need it!!

10 Reasons Why We Need Art

"Before the Music Died" © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2012

1.   History. Since the dawn of time art has served as a pictorial guide to where we originate from.  From the earliest cave drawings, to religious paintings and everything in between it has served as a way to look back in time and see how different cultures lived, what they went through and how we have grown as a species.     
2.  Cultural and political expression. Art serves as a very important purpose when it comes to getting a certain message out. If you look at art from specific cultures you can learn a lot about that culture and the way they live. From longstanding traditions to political views, if it is important to said culture chances are it has been depicted in their art. Street art is a good example of this, as it often expresses the needs of the community in which it originates.  
3.  Therapy. Art is proven to be therapeutic, both in the creation of it and in being audience to it. There are a lot of studies and a whole field dedicated to art therapy and its benefits. There are programs in schools, prisons, hospitals and nursing homes that embody the importance of art in relation to the quality of life.  
4.  Entertainment. Art isn’t just fun to create, it is an experience. Music, theater, dance, painting, when done right art takes you to a whole new place. Many people can spend hours in a museum looking at just one piece, and if you know enough about art and interpretation the possibilities are endless. When you watch TV you are also being artfully entertained, cartoons are obviously art, but every television show has an art department and art director who are responsible for the creative direction of the whole show. Let’s not forget video in itself is a kind of art too. If you watch a movie these days there is no doubt you will be exposed to an array of art in the form of sets, special effects and costumes. It is everywhere!!
5. Advertisement. Everybody has their favorite logo that is associated with a well-known brand. When you see the Gerber baby or the Pepsi symbol you automatically know and think of the brand that it is attached to. Companies use artwork to make a brand for themselves. These trademarks also help us easily identify exactly what we are looking for when we need it. 
6.  Expression. Many artists don’t know how to put into words how they are feeling, or who they are inside. Art is a release, an opportunity to say things in a way that others might understand and identify with. It isn’t only a way of expression for the creator, but for collectors also. When you identify with a piece and its message, and you hang it on your wall, buy the track or DVD, it says just as much about you as it does the creator. Music is one of the most expressive arts out there. We all have a song that we relate too and touch us in an emotional way. Sometimes these songs become a part of who we are because they represent a special time in our lives. 
7. Intellectual skills. Art is a great source of learning and strengthening your mind and memory. A lot of the skills you learn when creating or expressing yourself through art can be transferred to other aspects of your life. Art helps teach through repetition, a lot of kinds of art require mathematics and technology. Even building a good composition for a painting takes planning and knowledge, and sometimes even rules and measurements. Every kind of art requires great concentration.  Creative type people are known to be very innovative, unique thinkers and highly intelligent. Some of our best inventions have come from world class artists who thought outside the box.
8. Décor. While I never recommend buying a painting to match the couch, there is something to be said for creating a comforting, visually cohesive environment. If it is where you live, work or spend most of your time, you want to create an environment that speaks to who you are.  Art goes a long way in helping you develop a relaxing environment for yourself and your family.
9. Happiness!! Creating and viewing art isn’t only therapeutic it’s fun too!! Just watch a kid entertain themselves for hours by coloring, and using their imagination. Or go to a club when they play your favorite songs, no doubt you will be out on the dance floor having a blast!! When we are expressing ourselves in a creative way we are feeding our soul!
10. Instinct. We need art because it is hard wired in us. It is a part of who we are, because of all the reasons above. To deny art as an important part of life, or education, is denying a part of the human nature. We need art to flourish both as individual people and as a culture. The world without art would be a much duller, boring place.