Interestingly, we are the only species in the animal kingdom that choose deliberately to create art. We first began doing this (according to visual-arts-cork.com), approximately 1.7 million years ago when evidence shows cupules — small flat stones with engravings — were discovered on every continent except Antarctica.
So, for 1.7 million years we’ve been making and appreciating art. But why? Is it because art provides a dynamic platform for communication which surpasses the need for words? Is it because art is a fluid and dynamic tool for sharing ideas, images, sounds, stories and feelings?
Whatever it is, creative forms of expression remedy stress. Both art creation and art appreciation build neural networks and pathways between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, bringing balance by boosting cognitive and intuitive abilities.
Art acts to reach within and outside common patterns and social structures, assisting us to redefine how we relate to our environment and each other.
While some people claim that the magic of art serves no purpose other than simply being beautiful, in my experience, art serves a purpose way beyond aesthetics. It is a process through which lives can be transformed. It provides opportunities where communities and individuals become involved and moved to support one another. It helps to create bridges where visions and dreams can manifest into reality.
As an art mentor, I am deeply moved by the powerful influence creativity continues to have in the lives of people I work with. I have seen first-hand, time and again, people regain a tremendous sense of value from acting on their dreams. Art provides them with a gateway through which they can express and share their most profound gifts. In so doing these people become truly vibrant, and are able to experience a greater sense of joy, purpose, and fulfillment.
Students are able to experience how art can play a pivotal role in enriching their lives. Over time they grow and change into confident and positive beacons of inspiration and hope.
Read the full article in the Artist Profile in Vol 1 Issue 38
