Art matters. You know that or you wouldn't be reading an art blog! But, did you know that you can use your art as a means of activism? To speak out? To change hearts/minds/lives? Art can be so much more than a pretty picture hanging on the wall or a lovely vase on a table. Art can move people to action. This week, I witnessed a perfect example of that.
The community that I live in has recently been rocked by suicide. Young people have taken their lives at an alarming rate and in response to the need to let our young people know that their community cares about them and their mental well-being, several community members decided to have a rally to show our young people that they're supported. So, many in our community lined the streets leading up to the high school with handmade signs (ART!) showing messages and images of love and support. Several high school students have since reported being deeply touched by the gesture. Did it save lives? Perhaps it did! One can hope. <3
The point is, art isn't always used just to beautify. Sometimes, it's used to call attention to issues or to motivate change. I once had a conversation with another artist where we asked the question of several modern art pieces, "Is it art?" We came to the conclusion that the purpose of art is to evoke a feeling. If it was made or arranged and it evokes a feeling, it's art, whether the feeling it evokes is positive or negative. With that understanding, we as artists can think of tens of millions of ways to use art to affect change. What changes would you like to see? How can you use your art to evoke those changes? Give it some thought. And keep creating! :)
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