Art is an important part of society, of any society, as it allows an outlet of expression and creativity by it’s citizens. It can reflect how a society sees the world or how the world might see that society. It’s purely subjective of course and thus difficult to pin down in definition. Yet, it’s important! I work building stage sets for the local theater group here and I have found such a wonderful joy from watching actors perform on the stage that I have built. I didn’t quite see myself making art until later in my career when I realized I was truly crafting something unique and bringing to life the ideas and words that someone fantasized about. It’s an amazing feeling to know that you are doing such great work in the form of art, letting people become immersed in the play that they are watching.

I wish more people were able to appreciate art like I could, if they could see how it brings the community together and gives people something to look upon and wonder. Art tugs at your emotions and senses, gives you hopes and dreams and fantasies to explore. It can inspire and it can frighten. It’s often a dangerous tool that can provoke outrage within a community but only because of the message it can send, because it makes people truly feel something. Anything! Yet more and more there are schools and communities that are cutting their funding to the arts and instead focusing on sports or other programs. While these programs are useful and important, art should not be sacrificed for the sake of them. Art truly has too much to offer the entire world and it’s people and to cut it is simply ignorance. I will never give up on the art community and will always hope for the best.