LET'S TALK ABOUT ART IN A STOCK MARKET CRAZED, ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED WORLD

Here we are, talking about art while the world around us is in chaos. Some think this is a frivolous subject in times like these. They feel their time and money could be far better spent by focusing on things that will save our planet and correct our society. Well, that's exactly why art is needed so much more now than ever before. Art deepens our creative abilities allowing us to think, reason, and invent better. It helps us understand our history and our culture as no written words ever can. We see illustrations and understand math, science, music, etc., much better with artistic graphics. Look at the effects of art on school children. "Students in "arts rich" schools scored higher in creativity-imagination, expression, cooperative learning, risk-taking, and measures of academic self-concept than students in "arts poor" schools. Teachers and principals in schools with strong arts programs reported that the presence of the arts led teachers to be more innovative, to have increased awareness of students' abilities, and to enjoy work more". www.creatingpride.org/educators/why_art.asp So, you see, it's not just the children that benefit from art. It's good for adults as well.
Art calms our minds and our bodies and helps us to refocus and maintain our mental and emotional balance and heals the injured psyche. "Art therapy is the use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art". www.art-therapy.us/art_therapy.htm
Colors reach into the deepest parts of our emotions and cause us to react to them without consciously realizing it. We can use colors to shift our emotions and to heal us as well. http://healing.about.com/cs/colortherapy/a/aa_colortherapy.htm
Think about it now, do we make better decisions and come up with better solutions when we're stressed out and anxious or when we've calmed down to the point of good reason? Maybe we should get out our pencils and paper and start drawing again.