Art Brings Communities Together

This article will discuss how art brings communities together, how artists make a difference in their communities, and what aspects of art communities are unique to communities across the world.

We all have a natural curiosity about how the world works, and each of us has an idea of what makes people happy or sad. Many people have these ideas shared by family members, friends, or coworkers.

Yet, the idea of 'the definition of happiness' seems more like a vague dream rather than a tangible concept.

Many people don't truly understand the role of art and artists in shaping communities.

How do you define success when you're using a largely subjective definition? How does this lead to happiness? How can communities benefit from artists and how can artists bring value to communities?

What is Art?

Let's start by getting some definitions out of the way. Just like other elements of life, art can be broken down into three main categories: fine art, decorative art and folk art.

Fine art is generally considered the highest quality art and ranges from paintings to sculptures. In the United States, the highest-paid artist in the world is named, Norman Rockwell.

He is known for his well-known patriotic American paintings, caricatures, posters and other artwork. Rockwell has sold over a billion dollars worth of art and is probably more widely known than some actors.

Folk art is generally understood to be modern, the least expensive and least prized form of art.

It generally has a focus on shapes and patterns and is not as well-known as fine art. Folk art includes all kinds of stuff, from rocking horse carriages to kites to Easter baskets.

Decorative art is usually seen as the lowest and least complicated form of art. It includes things like ceramic figurines and glassware, household knick-knacks and party decorations.

"This environment really facilitates education for art students in the public schools," says Chuck Malone, owner of the Dessert Gallery in Lebanon, a specialist in folk art.

Different people have different definitions of what exactly art is. To the art collector, everything that is created is art. To others, the human eye isn't able to see each piece and everything is still considered art.

How do artists help the people they serve?

Maybe it's because art brings people together. Maybe it's because art brings people together to share their art and ideas with others. Maybe it's because art brings people together to share their grief.

The positive impact that art can have in any community is well documented, and in-depth research provides many examples. For example, James Siess at Cities.us described a study done in San Francisco where more than 6,000 people responded to various questions.

In an interview with Medium about his business C.H.A.D., a contributor named Jay Strom spoke about how he wants to help people create their own art. "I feel as if the world is failing us. Through finding joy and finding love, that's what we all need to do. The purpose of art is to bring everyone together."

Jay is a rare person who uses art and creativity to help bring people together. And he wants to help others do the same.

Art Can Bring Out the Good in People

Everyone seems to have a million ideas of what makes people happy or sad. This question is unique to each individual, and in my opinion, it depends on the person asking.

Everyone has a different outlook and perspective. But when you take a closer look at art and find something that touches your heart, you might start to understand that art truly does bring people together and can provide you with a deeper understanding of the world.

As a response to being asked why art matters, some of you may feel like "art isn't that big of a deal." People create art for their own pleasure, and what is the purpose of art?

Art brings communities together, brings people together to express themselves and bring others joy. In this way, art creates happiness.

Art Creates Better Understanding of the World

In the movie Get Out, Daniel Kaluuya's character questions the purpose of art. "Why are you making art if you don't know the purpose? If you know the purpose, then why would you do this?"

The question of why people create art was also posed to William Alexander in his article for The New Yorker. "What does a writer create?" Alexander writes. "A word, or a sentence, or a paragraph, that will communicate meaning to other people?"

The answer to this question may be that art exists to reveal the truth and bring people together. And even though many people view art as self-serving and self-serving alone, art can be beneficial to communities, as James Siess describes above.

Art Provides You with the Tools to Make Changes in the World

Some of you might feel like art can be a distraction from reality. This is true for those of you who see the world through rose-colored glasses and believe there are no real problems in the world.

But if you can shift your focus and see the world through the lens of art and artists, you may be surprised at what you learn about the world around you.

Some of the people who come up with some of the greatest solutions to the world's problems are artists. This is why mindfulness is so important; it changes your perspective and brings you back to reality with a clearer head. And the world needs more people like that.