We all know of the age old wisdom that says how much you get out of something has a direct correlation to how much you put in. But there is an exception to every rule. Art is one of the few learning tools that can produce an effect even when a person is totally passive toward it.
Too often I hear the phrase, “I don’t get art,” as if there is a right answer one can figure out by looking at a painting for long enough. The arts are a tool of communication and different expressions of art have the ability to inspire learning in different ways. By becoming active in and participating in artistic events, we can learn about our communities, our history, new and innovative ideas and ourselves.
Everyone has heard that listening to Mozart can make you better at math. There is lots of research about this and the most interesting thing about this research to me is that it has shown us that something as simple as listening to a piece of music has the ability to change the way our brains process information. If a piece of music can improve our understanding of math, it shouldn’t be a stretch to imagine it allowing us to look at any number of things in new and creative ways. With this in mind, it is worthwhile considering how you can integrate art (be it music or other creative mediums) into your life. Here’s three suggestions on how you can quickly (and easily) inject the arts into your life:
Visit your city’s cultural venues
Learn about your community by attending a concert at a venue steeped in history and cultural significance, such as the Orpheum. Discover what’s new in your community and visit an art event at the newest cutting edge creative space or uncover secret gems by attending a pop-up art sale in a little known heritage space that will soon shut its doors to the public.
Expand your network, learn about yourself, and create a masterpiece
Local Community Arts and Recreation Centres offer a wide variety of classes from pottery to painting to woodworking for all age groups. Taking a class is an excellent way to expand your network and meet new people. It’s also an opportunity to challenge your abilities and discover what you are capable of. Use your class time to work on an original masterpiece for your home or make a selection of items to give away as gifts over the holidays and wow everyone with your secret talent. To make sure you get the most out of the experience, think about something you want to achieve before you start the class and ask your instructor for help to achieve that goal rather than simply following the lesson plan.
Imagine Change
If there is something that you do not see happening in your community that you would like to see happening…make it happen. Just as the best way to learn is to do, the best way to learn from the arts is to act as an artist. A good first step to this is to simply imagine. Once you have an idea of what you want your community to be, you can take steps to create the community you imagined. Now that you’ve been exposed to the arts and your brain can process the same information in a new way, begin by considering your familiar surroundings in a new light. Consider what you would like to see happening in that public space, or what you would like to see pictured on the blank, windowless wall of a high rise for example.
The arts can be an incredibly powerful tool for learning. Getting involved in the cultural community may push you outside of your comfort zone but the benefits can be significant. Whether or not you have ever set foot in an art gallery, you have already experienced the benefits of learning driven by the arts. Increasing those benefits by increasing your exposure to the arts can be a fun and interesting way to learn about your community and yourself.