Let’s Talk About Art — Did You Know?

 Sometimes people ask the question “what is important about art?” In fact people have a lot of questions they ask about a lot of things. Sometimes the questions begin with religion and faith.
But we are surrounded by different kinds of culture and this makes people wonder “why” about a lot of things in their lives.  Like why do people collect art? Why do people have tattoos put on their bodies? And why do rulers have their portraits painted? Actually does it have to be something to do with status that these questions are asked? Well for status tribes wear a lot of necklaces around their necks. Then there is the issue of choosing a car to buy and why do people choose certain kinds of cars?
Ok another one… Why do people buy art replicas?  Well because it gives them some type of status. When East Indian women are dressed for a wedding they paint on their face and wear much jewelry… does this show their status? Basically the “arts” convey importance.
Selling cigarettes with ads connect images to the arts for the advertising of different kinds of cigarettes. People love to decorate their gardens with statues. We are involved with the elements of art design in our houses, clothes, cars and most of life.  Tee shirts say who we are and what we believe in which then maintain a cultural statement. Disneyland images portray what America should be like; and people go by the thousands because they feel that Disneyland is where they can really enjoy what American life is like (at the cost of money and a short period of time). Yes, don’t forget postage stamps, also, are a way political values can be portrayed and we buy them everyday.  We have to realize that “art” is bought, bartered and traded to effect values everyday.  However, there was a time when certain cultures had to deal with what was dictated in what they could make. Our early pioneer settlers did not believe in having their churches show any kind of decoration. Art shapes prevail today in our body adornments and style our hair and place jewelry in or on different parts of our body. Hats are very special as they can make people be very important like the pope, and pharaohs, police chiefs, army officers, all represent the different cultures we know exist.  At the end of each day of our lives we have to realize that what exists in our cultural areas are:
1. The family
2. Nature
3. Simplicity of Life
We have to think about how we are all alike and how we are all different and learn to respect each other. Culture is common and is shared by all groups through language, government system, religion, ceremonies, economics, and family traditions. The question is?  Are we ready to integrate the many aspects of the value of art into our lives?
Jaylene Armstrong is a retired Art Teacher from Madison, Wisconsin, a former National Art Education Association Western Region Vice President and President of Wisconsin Art Education Association.  For more information contact Jaylene at 661-255-3050.