Make A Noise For Some Art Today

Edward Munch

Every day while I am making my way to college I pass by the 42nd Times Square station. I am always in a rush but I still can’t help and notice the murals and the people singing and performing. Passing by this everyday makes my day a little brighter. I have heard a number of people talking about artists not being able to survive by just selling art. Looking at the people I see at the subway or elsewhere that are performing and making art in their own small way makes me come to the realization that the point is not about making money, it’s about sharing an idea, a thought. Of course in the world today one needs money to survive but if one understood the true essence of art such questions wouldn’t come to mind.

Art can be in anything we see, whether it is photography, paintings or poetry. Even though art is such an integral part of our lives, knowingly unknowingly the significance of it seems to be diminishing. It is sad to see it slipping as art provokes imagination, expression and individuality. These factors are important in shaping a child. Yet one of the first programs targeted in public schools in U.S during the recession were the art programs. Is art not considered a subject of its own? Art should not be taking a back seat, in fact at this time it should play a bigger role. It is not necessary to have crisp paper and out of the box watercolors to make art. Scraps of paper, recycled materials and sticks can even be sufficient.


Recently my mother who is an artist herself was asked to judge students for a scholarship grant at a college. She told me how shocked she was that though the quality of art was good these students seemed more into their own art and had less of knowledge about the current artists. I too can relate to this, none of my friends and I are engaged in a conversation about art. As students many of us are made to study art history but who knows which artists today is going to make it in the future art history books. Being educated in art should not be a supplementary; it is time that it shares the same platform.