It's been almost two years since that March 12, 2020 afternoon when Artrageous was cancelled with the Governor's order prohibiting large group meetings. March of 2021 passed without an Artrageous, too. And here we are on the eve of March 2022, the eve of our AP Studio Art Students Show at the SHAPE Gallery, and the eve of yet another Artrageous.
What's that like?
Weird. Surreal. Exciting. Worrisome. Stressful. All of that.
It's been a tough couple of years for everyone. There has been a lot of sadness and upset. There have been political battles over things none of us expected to be political. People and organizations have made good decisions and bad decisions. One thing is certain: If times were tense and we were short with each other before the pandemic, they haven't gotten better since. And that's where art has saved a lot of us, especially kids.
Art is a communication medium. Through our art, we work through ideas and feelings that aren't easily communicated in words. Kids, even teenagers, have experienced the pandemic as a much larger fraction of their lives than adults have. Being able to immerse themselves in art making allows them to explore their life upsets and grief in a safe way. Every day in the art room, art teachers see kids turning corners through their artwork. So, when we're feeling weird, surreal, worried, and stressed, who do we turn to?
We turn to your kids, our students.