By Lucy Andrus, MSEd, ATR

2000

ARTMAKING IS A UNIVERSAL, INHERENT TRAIT OF THE HUMAN SPECIES: “TO TAKE AND MAKE SPECIAL.” (Ellen Dissanayake )

DEPRIVING PEOPLE OF AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE DENIES A

FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC OF BEING HUMAN.

ARTMAKING USED FOR HEALING AND MASTERY PREDATES RECORDED HISTORY.

INTEGRATED ART EXPERIENCE INVOLVES THE ACTIVITIES OF

VIEWING, DISCUSSING, INTERPRETING, VALUING, MAKING, AND

PRESERVING DIVERSE WORKS OF ART.

ART EDUCATION IS DISCIPLINE-BASED, SUPPORTS ALL ASPECTS

OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGAGES STUDENTS IN

COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE AND PSYCHOMOTOR LEARNING.

ART EXPERIENCE TAPS MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES, MAXIMIZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND RETENTION OF LEARNING.

EDUCATION THROUGH ART OFTEN SURPASSES TRADITIONAL

TEACHING METHODOLOGY, ESPECIALLY FOR NON-

TRADITIONAL LEARNERS.

ART GIVES PEOPLE A VOICE AND OFFERS ANOTHER LANGUAGE

FOR COMMUNICATION AND SELF-EXPRESSION.

ART EXPERIENCE IS EMPOWERING, AND PROVIDES CHILDREN

SEARCHING FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RESPECT, A HEALTHY

IDENTITY, THAT OF, MAKER AND CONSUMER OF ART.

ART EXPERIENCE CONSTITUTES A KIND OF PREVENTATIVE

MEDICINE THAT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN

CONSIDERED AT RISK.

THE BENEFITS OF ART EXPERIENCE TOUCH ALL ASPECTS OF

LIFE AND LIVING.

ART BUILDS BRIDGES AND BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IN ALL

THEIR HUMANNESS. ART TRANSCENDS TIME, PLACE, AND

DIFFERENCE.