Art has always been taken for granted. People often forget what art has meant throughout centuries, how it has been a critical aspect of being human, and how it has managed to save us repeatedly. It began with us, and it has evolved with us. Art has been a way of communication, where the artist depicts his imagination and makes us feel new things and understand new concepts.
Importance of Art
Art is more than an expression; it has a societal and psychological effect on humans as well. Starting from cave drawings and leading to music, dance, poetry, drawings, paintings, and more — art has played a big role in our lives.
Here’s how art is significant to us:
Art is a Part of Our Behavior
Art isn’t separate from us, it is us. Just like our survival depends on food, water, and shelter, our emotional well-being depends on feelings of love, joy, peace, and satisfaction and to be able to express and regulate what we feel.
For this, humans have been creating art since the beginning of time — from berries for paint, stones, and wood for carving, dancing, creating music, and indulging in stories and poetry.
Even if our career paths diverge from the arts, we can indulge in it as a spectator by supporting those that make art to show appreciation.
Bridges the Communication Gap
You don’t need to speak the same language to be able to understand art; art is universal and a language on its own. A picture or a song can stir strong emotions in all of us, even if we speak different languages. Take the infamous “The Scream” by Edvard Munch; it doesn’t require a degree in art to know the language of pain, sorrow, and confusion.
Art is Everywhere
Art documents and preserves the past; historical art is about everyday life in a particular era or society, letting us see things from different perspectives. But today, art is everywhere; billboards, clothes, murals, graffiti, art is a means of stirring emotion wherever you are.
Good for Mental Well-being
Art is great for mental health. It lowers stress levels and promotes calmness, providing your brain with a creative and therapeutic distraction. Art is so well at doing that, that Art Therapy is used to help people explore their feelings, understand their conflicts, bring about self-awareness, managing certain behaviors and addictions.
Here’s why we should support local artists to propagate art in this world.
Importance of Local Artists
Art is everywhere and most people can feel the appeal in art and appreciate the work and commitment it takes to create magnificent artworks. However, it’s more difficult and rare to support local artists. People are often confused about how to go about that and feel that buying their paintings is the only way they can support art.
Local artists are so much more than people who paint pretty artworks for your community. For many, it’s a true passion where they want their communities to flourish and become a better place to live in. Artists work on passion and create art through it. But local artists strengthen the community we are in, changing mindsets and norms.
How do they do it? Well, local artists are the ones that teach children about art in school, they help patients in healthcare institutes using art therapy, so they can ease into their recovery with efficiency, and these artists also help local businesses around by helping them with their artistic needs.
Is there a particular area in your town that you’re proud of? Chances are, the local art community must’ve been involved in that! Local artists help to create sculptures, artistic attractions, and other things to make the everyday look of your town better.
When you support local artists, you’re saying that art classes are important for your children, that art therapy is crucial when it comes to healing, it’s accepting that art changes the world around you to make it better.
Why Support Local Artists?
Supporting the local artists in your area doesn’t have to be out of reach. If you don’t collect art, that’s okay; there are other things you can do to make a difference to the art community. Here are some ideas that can have an impact:
Sharing Their Work Online
Social media can be a great tool for local businesses and artists; it’s where word-of-mouth advertising happens these days. So, if you see art in your area that tugs at your heart, share it online!
Tell people where it is, tag the artist who has made it so the whole world can appreciate them. You can also follow local artists and share their artwork on social media platforms.
Be More Active in Local Events
Local events matter; whether there’s a gallery show, a cultural event, a local musician’s concert, or a fair, make sure you’re present there for the events that you’re interested in. If an event doesn’t get enough attendees, it’s likely to get canceled next year, so it makes a difference if you can be there.
Shop Locally
Have to renovate your home? Need to redo your office? Got to gift someone something special? Think about local art first. A lot of local artists would love the opportunity to create something unique and personalized for you. Instead of opting for generic gifts and paintings, reach out to the local artists in your area and ask if they can make something for you.
I write on various topics, ranging from social to financial, technological to fiction and much more. I have an experience of 5 years into the field of writing.
