This week is National Arts In Education Week and Americans for the Arts has encouraged individuals across the country to share our stories using the prompt #becauseofartsed.Many of you know that I am a graduate of the University of Kansas with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Illustration. It would be easy (and true) to say that because of arts ed, I am a college graduate and on my way to finding a job in the creative industry. It would also be true to say that because of arts ed, I am an accomplished artist, I have published a couple books, or that I have had a few shows here and there to display the work I have created.
Because of arts ed, I found a passion for live painting through the encouragement of my mentors and friends back in high school. I am now a nationally recognized speed painter, traveling the state and country to give a unique form of art to various organizations, schools, and events.
Because of arts ed, I have been a part of so many diverse, inclusive, fascinating communities that come together through the arts in one way or another - creating, discussing, participating, or viewing.
Because of arts ed, I am equipped with the tools I feel are necessary to succeed in this world: creativity, compassion, teamwork, respect for others, innovation, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, reflection, resiliency... I could go on.Because of arts ed, I had a place to cry when I was bullied in high school, a place where I felt safe, and a place where I would always be accepted.
Because of arts ed, I have the creative outlets I need for when I have been filled with anxiety, depression, and sadness to express myself in the most human way possible.
Because of arts ed, I have had the opportunity to connect with incredible people, sharing stories and experiences, creating together, and living in this crazy world we call home.I am blessed, for I have never known a world without the arts. I say I have been an artist ever since I could hold a crayon. I do not remember a time when my world was not filled with music, experiences in the theater, markers within arms reach, and a family that supported it all.
The arts in education is not just a matter of teaching a child to paint, or play an instrument, or dance, or perform on a stage... it's a matter of creating a deeper meaning for the next generation. The intangible qualities that the arts provide both in and outside of the classroom are skills and experiences that last a lifetime.
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." -Aristotle
Create something today. Talk to an artist. Go to the school play. See a local band in town. Dance at home in your living room with your best friend or with no one at all. Notice the artist's fingerprint that lingers throughout our every day lives and the careful design that has been cultivated in our world to allow us to function and exist fluidly among technology, each other, and the earth. Support the arts in your schools and communities... there is no greater treasure than the gift of the arts, the traits and skills they give to us as human beings, the experiences they allow, and the lifelong engagement that we carry with us #becauseofartsed.
