Ram Talks Art: Be art full: Make art a bigger part of your life

By Stacey Sauer, Education Coordinator, Rockford Art Museum

Ancient civilizations are remembered not only for their feats of engineering and architecture, but also for their great philosophers and artisans. For hundreds of years, these civilizations believed the arts were as fundamental and essential to producing a well-rounded individual as science, mathematics and history.

In today's modern society, the emphasis is on reading, writing and arithmetic, and the visual and performing arts may be sacrificed when budget cuts occur. This shift in importance may result in adults and seniors having little or no exposure to the fine arts. Many have never visited an art museum, heard a symphony or seen a theatrical performance. When given the opportunity, many choose to avoid participating in any kind of organized class for the fine arts.

And although there have been numerous studies conducted on the benefit of the arts for children, how many of us have stopped to think about what the arts can do for us as adults? How do the arts contribute to our lifelong learning, and how can we best introduce it back into our lives?

The arts allow us an opportunity for self-expression. When we were children, the notion of being creative was neither frightening nor in short supply. We used our imaginations to create works of art, prose, poetry, dance or music. For many of us, the notion of creativity stopped after elementary school. As we age, we tend to lose the ability to express ourselves creatively. By introducing the arts into our own adult education, we can begin to, once again, express our emotions through a variety of outlets.

The arts allow us to tap into our emotions and express what we are feeling in the moment. When we create a piece of art, a play, or a piece of music, we say to the world, “Here I am; this is what I have to say.” Not only are the arts an emotional outlet, but also creating art has even been shown to decrease stress!

Integrating the arts into your lifelong learning can also be beneficial in the workplace. Don't believe me? Think about how participating in a play, concert or multimedia presentation can help you learn how to allocate your time and resources. Do you need to work on your interpersonal skills? Consider joining a theater cast, or become involved in a community arts project. Does your job require you to have knowledge of certain equipment and tools, or perhaps require you to apply different computer programs for various tasks? Think about how choosing the right paint or brush will affect the outcome of an artist's piece, or how musicians maintain their instruments.

Seniors who actively participate in the arts have found it to be socially beneficial as well as therapeutic. The arts give them an outlet for their self-expression, and can also provide them a way to reminisce and share their lives in a new way. Drawing, sculpting, or assembling art has also been shown to help seniors with small motor movements. Working in groups provides an opportunity to socialize and decreases the feelings of loneliness and isolation some seniors experience.

Programs such as Senior Time for Art (START), offered by Rockford Art Museum (RAM) to residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, enable residents to participate in art activities that enhance their learning and enrich their lives. A free exhibition of work created by START participants is on display at the RAM Art Annex through May 25.

Looking for ways to add the arts into your lifelong learning? Take a class with the Rock Valley College (RVC) Community and Continuing Education Department, Womanspace, or join the RVC Center for Learning and Retirement.

Take a dance class with Rockford Dance Company, attend a performance of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, or visit RVC's Starlight Theatre and enjoy a play or musical, or Rockford College's Clark Arts Center for a performance by the members of Artists' Ensemble Theater. Visit Rockford Art Museum and view exhibitions by regional and local artists.

For more information about the organizations listed above, please visit their respective Web sites at the following addresses:

Artists' Ensemble Theater: http://www.artistsensemble.org

RVC Community & Continuing Education: http://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/show.cfm?durki=54

RVC Center for Learning and Retirement: http://www.rockvalleycollege.edu/show.cfm?durki=275&site=11&return=16

RVC Starlight Theatre: http://www.rvcstarlight.com

Rockford Art Museum: http://www.rockfordartmuseum.org

Rockford Dance Company: http://www.rockforddancecompany.com/

Rockford Symphony Orchestra: http://www.rockfordsymphony.com/

Womanspace: http://www.womanspace-rockford.org

Contact Rockford Art Museum Education Coordinator Stacey Sauer at ssauer@rockfordartmuseum.org.

from the April 2-8, 2008, issue

 

 

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