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May 2008 That Reminds Me
Art smart
 Emily Schilling
Editor
Welcome to a very artistic issue! The winners of our 11th annual Cooperative Calendar of Student Art contest are being unveiled. Congratulations to the talented artists whose works will be showcased in the calendar which will be printed this fall.
Each year, when the artwork arrives here to be judged, I’m amazed by these kids’ creations. It’s obvious these students love art. And it’s clear they are discovering art is a way to tell a story or express an idea far more effectively than words can sometimes do.
Back in my day, I considered pursuing a career in art. I took as many art classes as I could and spent hours in front of a canvas or sketch pad, blissfully lost in the artistic process as I perfected a still life or a portrait.
I haven’t indulged my inner artist for years — unless you count the times I’ve doodled with crayons on the paper table covers in restaurants. But I’ll never forget the satisfaction I got as a student artist when I was able to translate my creative vision to a two-dimensional surface!
Some people may not see the importance of art education. But, in my case, art was one of my most valuable classes. Learning to appreciate the world artistically gave me a rich outlook on life. Concentrating on interpreting my subject matter in my personal artistic style was calming yet empowering. Learning about important artists through the years and being able to recognize their works (ah, I remember looking at those slides over and over in art history class) has helped me treasure all the museum visits I’ve made through the years. True, some of the details about the inspiration behind the paintings are now fuzzy, but I can certainly identify a Monet, Degas or Mondrian within seconds. I am able to recognize and appreciate so many other masterpieces that represent how art has evolved through the centuries.
Art gives us all a voice. The artist communicates and interprets using tools like paint, pencils, crayons, or clay. Those who encounter the artwork respond to its message, whether verbally or internally. The communication between the artist and each person viewing the art is unique. Art speaks to our experiences, our memories, our emotions.
I’m so thankful that this year’s art contest participants seized the opportunity to speak to us with their artwork. I hope they’ll all continue to use their talents to give us glimpses into their worlds — and the chance for us to react to their vision.
Written By: eceditor
Date Posted: 4/30/2008
Number of Views: 115
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