As I stood before my 1st-grade class teaching students about the color wheel, a moment of insight came from an unexpected source. A petite blue-eyed girl with a cowlick posed a question that resonated deeply within me: "Mrs. G, what's so great about the world?" I replied, “I don’t know Mary, what?” Without hesitation, she continued her artwork, never lifting her gaze, and answered her own question: "Colors." This simple yet profound exchange lingered with me for years, igniting a realization about the power of art and education as catalysts for social change.
Color, as I came to understand in art and science, is not merely a visual phenomenon but a gateway to perception—a means of seeing and experiencing the world around us. Too often, we relegate art to the realm of abstraction, distancing it from the fabric of our daily lives. Similarly, education suffers from compartmentalization, fragmenting knowledge into isolated subjects and disciplines.
And too often this compartmentalization extends to our social and communal settings. It makes for a lonely world, and less colorful one as well. Art brings out a persons’ inner light; education sets them on a path toward greater understanding, toward greater service. And these two areas combined, as uncomfortable as it can be, bring out the light in people and help one another to see from a new perspective, through a new prism, with new colors. What a gift artistic expression can be to a person, to a group, to a community. From a more academic view, both art and education possess the capacity to transcend boundaries and foster interconnectedness. We must endeavor to bridge the perceived divide between these realms, encouraging the integration of science, technology and art in ways that go beyond mere instruction or rote learning. There is fun to be had and boundaries to be broken, in teaching from a new view to learning in new ways.
In pursuit of a more holistic education, we must recognize the myriad ways in which art permeates our existence. It manifests in the bonds forged through shared cultural experiences, the joyous celebrations of creativity, and the moments of introspection that enrich our lives. Art and learning intertwine seamlessly, shaping our identities, fostering collaboration, and reinforcing our values throughout history.
As an artist and educator, my mission is clear: to illuminate the inherent brilliance within each individual and cultivate their inner light. By bridging the realms of art and education, we empower individuals to flourish—not through grandiose artistic gestures, but through the subtle yet essential components of a fulfilling life. Whether is attending a play, a film, playing an instrument, creating an object, painting a picture or singing a song in your car on your drive home; these things and many more are important components toward building and maintaining a happy life, thanks to arts and education. These experiences unite us; they make us stronger as individuals and people and should be cherished reflections of a healthy democracy.
Let us embrace the transformative potential of art and education as vehicles for social change, recognizing their capacity to inspire, unite, and elevate humanity. Together, let us paint a brighter, more inclusive future, where creativity and knowledge converge to illuminate the path forward.