It is time to tell you that art is for you… yes! It is and every day there are elements of design all around you. Yes, the elements of design are line, color, shape, size, form and texture – all of these elements are seen in our daily lives. Your clothes have color and shape and size. Our houses have shape and size and color and many textures. The stores we shop in have size and shape and many colors for the items and objects the store is selling… streets, cars, buildings, roads, stop signs, billboards, and everything in our visual environments are made up of the elements of design… which is the basis of being art forms.
Most people think when they hear the word art spoken that the person is talking about paintings, sculpture, architecture and ornaments created by people.
Of course art does have a lot to do with all of those things, but the dictionary definition of art is: the human ability to make things; the creativity of man as distinguished from the world of nature; having skill, craftsmanship and the making and doing of things that display form, beauty and unusual perception. Okay, now all is understood when we say art is for you.
Education is where all of us should learn about the importance of the place of art in our lives. Sadly, many people grew up in education systems where the curriculum did not include any art history or art appreciation, therefore we have many communities that do not support a place for art galleries, art museums and art stores. But we do have Aarons Art Supply here in Santa Clarita, and it offers a lot of opportunity to see examples of different kinds of art prints and art supplies.
The Santa Clarita Artist Association wants to have its own art gallery and has created a fundraising plan to work towards earning money to have their own art gallery. The artist association needs donations and support to be able to create an art gallery so there will be art for all of us to see from the members’ professional and original art work. Volunteers are welcome to participate in this creative mission and can contact the Santa Clarita Artist Association on their website, www.SantaClaritaArtists.org.
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.