Make Art a Part

19 November 2013Pascale B

Pascale B, Mackenzie ‘14 The following is the text of a speech delivered in assembly last week by our Assistant Head Prefect responsible for the Arts. Hello Everyone, In line with the Fabrications Speeches being presented today I am going to shamelessly use my time to convince you of three benefits of creativity. First of all, the health benefits: the Harvard School of Public Health did a study recently which revealed that art helps reduce stress and anxiety, increase positive emotions, reduce the likelihood of depression, strengthen feelings of identity, and help form social networks. Secondly – unlike several academic subjects – in art there is no single correct answer which means that artists have to employ a multitude of different techniques to achieve the purpose of their work. Art, therefore, improves our ability to problem solve and brainstorm. This type of mental training has been proven to increase test score because it improves our ability to view a situation from multiple perspectives. Lastly, in today’s world we are always ‘connected’ and we are constantly consuming information. If we look at our day, we go from listening to a teacher in the classroom, to reading text messages and watching TV. It can be ridiculously easy to spend our entire day consuming information and simply responding to the inputs that bombard our life. Art offers us a way out of all that. It gives us the chance to be creative and, instead of consuming information, contribute for a change. In another article on the 10 common mistakes that prevent you from being happy and healthy IGNORING YOUR CREATIVE ABILITIES was #5. So, open a blank document and start typing. Put pen to paper and sketch a drawing. Grab your camera and take a picture. Debate. Sculpt. Paint. Dance. Sing. Pot. Play. Pascale B, Mackenzie ‘14

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