"...There seems to be a natural tendency for artistic and creative expression in prison settings" -David Gussak
This quote really does not say much about art therapy, yes. But it does show the level of potential for art therapy to be very successful in a prison setting. When one thinks of prisons it makes you think of delinquents that are up to no good and can't do anything right or deserve anything, and that's what gets put into their minds. They see that they are hated, not appreciated and wind up being disgusted with themselves thinking they have no hope. They're done. But a prison setting can be creative because it is such a minimal setting that the people in there have to make due with what they are allowed. But there is a lot of isolation and hatred tied into being locked in a cell I would assume, and art therapy would be their ticket out. Not out of the prison necessarily, but a path to guide them in the right direction. The prisons in America are over crowded we learned in the beginning of the year from Decode DC, and we need to keep people out. If art therapy programs are started in a few of the prisons and it works successfully then it could be a breakthrough. Art therapy provides them the ability to confront their inner emotions without directly saying them, and allows them to express while dealing with what they feel to make a change, to see growth in their life. This could be out breaking and potentially help the people who need help and guidance to be in the mindset to get back on their feet.
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"It is the ethical responsibility of government and society to protect the most vulnerable citizens. Individuals with FASD often thrive in environments that are highly structured and predictable. They benefit from appropriate family and community support" -Cathy Heidema
This quote shoes the things that art therapy is able to help some people,while it also is not beneficial and can not help all of the problems. The people who are in need of any ary therapy or just regular talk it through therapy, they are vulnerable to everything that the world throws at them. The FASD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, diagnosis has been known to cause a lot of mental health issues and dealing with the grief that has been put on the child. Art therapy can help in some cases to mind those wounds internally, but it will never get rid of any physical scars, broken relationships, any illness all together. But by helping to support patients mentally it will help them to start with themselves then provide them the strength to proceed on whatever they are facing. We can not just give up on these people, and like mentioned with the support of the community and their family they are able to heal slowly, maybe even a little faster with the art therapy sessions. This quote by Winston Churchill says it all. He was a strong leader of England, and at that time even in a time of hardship being bombed and in the midst of a war he still managed to save the arts. Parliament and many officials advised him to cut the art funding from the national budget (I guess what they would call it). But he stood his ground and as a leader said "then what are we fighting for?" That right there is a deep thought. What if there was no art? No expression? No sculptured or flavored culture; just plain thoughts stuck in brains and between flag sheets of paper. He saw that art is what make everything alive; it's what makes the country what it is and has its whole history based off of it. Why would they be fighting if they weren't to preserve what is within the city, what has built is to what it is? Why would they abandon the one thing that they know if always a constant thing and it is crucially important to the country more then others recognize. Art shows meaning, symbolism and is a key factor going into the future. They were fighting for this, and to think it could have gotten cut is absolutely absurd.
"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain." (John Adams)
While it isn't exactly a current government official, the Second President of the United States knew what was up. He saw and highlighted the importance of curriculum and general studies, but also saw the bigger picture of creativity, imagination and potential that the future would hold for the country generations before hand. “Arts education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate, the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence.”
– Joseph M. Calahan, Director of Cooperate Communications, Xerox Corporation Art therapy is a strong impact on many people's lives, and has helped so many people prepare themselves and help teach others skills that they can apply into their lives. Art opens up the mind to embrace and generate creative ideas that drive and innovate the world to get to this point we are already at. Many companies are looking for bold, strong minded and intelligent people who will add more to their team to make it that much better. Joseph sees that people who take place in art education services it will advance them in the long run, giving time to morph and fit into where one works or lives in. Art promotes the trait of patience, passion, leadership and organization so that individuals will be more stricter and prepared for life. Being in a group like the one mentioned in the reading it sounds like the students themselves have become friends and mutually work together. You would want your painting to be reflective and incorporate many different pierces to it to tell a story and do as one pleases. Art therapy does help unlock many social issues that some teenagers typically have, and it has them come out of their shell to speak and becoming more involved in the lesson. So many companies are starting to hire and recognize those who are capable of many things and can handle themselves. "The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament of human life, have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.”
–George Washington George Washington, who lived over 250 years ago, saw the importance of art in education and to the world. Art has allowed the United States and so many other countries to flourish and is a signature display of history in most civilizations. Art is the depiction of struggles, fame, tragedy, and help to capture the tone of an era and a good idea of what the author was feeling at that time based on what was going on. There are several famous paintings from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Presidents, and even before that with the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and so on and so forth. George Washington emphasized that art was crucial to the survival of societies and to understanding the past, present, and future. People can express their love, devotion and strength of their country through art; how bravely they fought on battle fields, how dignified, how motivated, how great they all were. Art could be used to express patriotism; their gratitude for people who died for them. As for veterans and others who have served, their art shows how proud they are to fight for what they so strongly believe in and to show support by bettering themselves and coping with their losses and struggles after fighting. “I believe arts education in music, theater, dance, and the visual arts is one of the most creative ways we have to find the gold that is buried just beneath the surface. They (children) have an enthusiasm for life a spark of creativity, and vivid imaginations that need training – training that prepares them to become confident young men and women.”
– Richard W. Riley, Former US Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley was the Former U.S. Secretary of Education from 1993 to 2001, and was a strong advocate for art programs in early education. Arts are the way to find the true light in some of the students, and makes them more sociable, flexible and creative people as young children. Beneath the core classes, the arts will allow them to express themselves and discover things beyond themselves or within themselves. They are enthusiastic to trying new things, and are the ones who greatly benefit from practices that stretch their minds beyond what they are. This prepares them to be innovative and ready to tackle the world as they grow older and are not able to communicate more effectively, but can be more confident in their abilities to problem solve and lead others. Arts are crucial to the future generations of the United States of America, which is why the consecutive U.S. Secretary of Education has been fighting to promote the importance of art in education programs. ". . . the arts have been an inseparable part of the human journey; indeed, we depend on the arts to carry us toward the fullness of our humanity. We value them for themselves, and because we do, we believe knowing and practicing them is fundamental to the healthy development of our children's minds and spirits. That is why, in any civilization - ours included - the arts are inseparable from the very meaning of the term 'education.' We know from long experience that no one can claim to be truly educated who lacks basic knowledge and skills in the arts." -National Standards for Art Education
This quote is very powerful, and pulls different emotions for the importance of art education, therapy, and services. Art has been around for thousands of years, and this country has been founded on the value and structure of art influence. It is apart of human nature to create art, and is extremely healthy to participate in doing so. The National Standards for Art Education is below the U.S. Department of Education and advocated strictly for the promotion of arts across the nation for all. The world is looking for creative and innovative leaders, as well as educated in the arts and are able to have flexible thinking while also being educated in the other core areas. Art can be tied into all aspects of life, and an education with art is well rounded and will lead children to be more successful compared to those who do not have an education with art incorporated in it. Government officials and groups have to realize that this is the key to the future, and children have to be taught to adapt and morph to the constantly changing world they will be pulled into adulthood in. "The notion that we would be going backwards instead of forwards in how we’re devoting resources to educating our kids makes absolutely no sense."
~President Obama; meeting with the Council of the Great City Schools/ March 16,2015 This quote while is doesn't exactly spell out art programs, also relates to the importance of art in every child's education. The world itself would initially be going backwards if The United States cuts funding for its education programs. The initial goal is to keep the country moving forward and advancing the quality of life not only for Americans, but for the entire planet. The United States will not continue to progress if funding for education is cut, because the next generations will not be properly educated or taught to run a country. More specifically, there will be no more creative minds that are the innovation for years to come. The world is constantly shifting, and there is going to be a higher demand for minds that think outside of the box, that have fresh and new exhilarating ideas, and can lead with an open and flexible mind. Art and art therapy can help not only children, but people of all ages reach their mind to explore new possibilities, to expand their horizons, and apply that to other aspects of their life including their career. Cutting art programs in schools is a huge mistake, and will negatively impact the future generations in America. Like President Obama said, it makes no sense that we would cut resources and beneficial programs for our children's education and would only have us going backwards. |
AuthorLauren Schuster. Art Activist and Enthusiast. Archives
May 2016
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