When you are at a business mixer thinking of things to make small talk about, what comes to mind? The latest sports scores? Who's running for govenor and what are his or her chances of winning? What about the stock market or the latest gadget coming out of Apple headquarters?
What about Art? Have you ever stopped to consider that it's Art that gives our world its color? How bland would be the poster at right without the soft lavendar and blue spray behind the stark words. And I'm including all forms of Art, from the visual to performing to writing.
I have two - what I think are Good - reasons why Art should be a Mainstream Topic:
1. Art enriches our lives.
2. Art brings people together.
Let's talk about this more.
ART ENRICHES OUR LIVES
Here's just one example: Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital 30 miles north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The organization, Partners In Healthcare [a truly awe-inspiring organization] with the organization Zanmi Lasante, before 2010 had been planning to build a new community hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti. Then the earthquake hit and their plans were "upscaled." Now, not only will this be a much needed 320-bed facility, it will also be a national teaching hospital. Whew! Awesome...a great topic all by itself. So where does Art enter into this? Through the beauty of mosaics.
Internationally-known fine art mosaic artist Laurel True has a distinquished record of dividing her time between her own studio work and giving her time and energy to projects around the world. From her website:
True has been facilitating public and community mosaic projects for almost 20 years and has helped to provide job training and arts education to underserved communities in urban environments and develping areas. She has created hundreds of projects over the years, working with volunteers, assistants, students, trades people and artists of ages on projects that reflect a sense of community pride and cultural significance in the locations where they are sited.
And one of these projects has been the Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital, Mosaics at Mirebalais Hospital. Phase One of the project completed "...a beautiful 14' x 9' mosaic mural for the entryway of the hospital, a 7' x 9' mosaic pavement inset with the PIH/ Zanmi Lasante logo and a large 20' x 10' mosaic seat wall outside the Community Health waiting area...." See, it's not just me who believes that there is healing properties in art! Phase Two of the project, now underway, will:
...include the creation of vibrant, playful ceramic tile mosaic murals and enhancements in the Pediatrics Ward and Children's Playroom of the hospital...Design development for this project will be done with the help of Haitian and American school children through a cross-cultural design process that will focus on the themes of nature, play and education, adding a soothing element to Haitian childrens' hospital experience.
Art - mosaic art - enriching lives.
ART BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER
I've discovered that Art is one of those "things" that brings people together no matter where they are on the planet. Artists love to connect. The proof of that pudding was shown to me in person recently at an outdoor art show in which I participated. I wrote about this in a recent post saying that I met an artist who lives in Guatemala. He and his brother have a project in their community where they offer classes to children in the area and also do outreach to families in need. Here he was in a town in northern California connecting with visitors to his booth about his work and home in his own country.
I'm on the email list for a newsletter put out by the Djerassi Resident Artists Program. Their mission:
The mission of the Djerassi Resident Artists Program is to support and enhance the creativity of artists by providing uninterrupted time for work, reflection, and collegial interaction in a setting of great natural beauty, and to preserve the land on which the Program is situated.
This California-based program brings artists from anywhere in the world.
Cool. Art bridges oceans and continents; lanuages and religions; political views and lifestyles. Artists speak a language of possibilities with enthusiasm.
If only more people would talk about art topics instead of arguing about politics maybe, just maybe the world would be a more peaceful and brightly colored place.
Comments