HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Through the annals of time, artists have been the heralds of their epochs. From the majestic strokes of Renaissance masters to the avant-garde expressions of contemporary creators, the artist’s journey mirrors the tides of societal change and the revolutions of culture. They encapsulate history within their creations, etching the soul of each era into the canvas of time.

SOCIAL COMMENTARY

Art, a poignant mirror reflecting society’s collective consciousness, speaks in diverse languages. Whether manifested in brushstrokes on canvas or woven into the lyrics of a song, artists capture the nuanced essence of their time. Their creations serve as a resonant commentary, inviting audiences to engage with the pulse of the present.

CULTURAL IMPACT

Art’s influence on culture is transformative, shaping identities and challenging established norms. Artists, as cultural architects, contribute to a perpetual narrative, fostering a shared experience that transcends borders. The tapestry they weave becomes an integral part of our collective history, evolving with each stroke of creative expression.

ART AS ACTIVISM

In an era marked by social and political upheaval, artists assume the mantle of change catalysts. Through the powerful mediums of visual storytelling, music, and performance, they transcend mere artistic expression. Instead, they become advocates, sparking crucial conversations, and challenging the stagnancy of the status quo, infusing art with a sense of purpose.

CHALLENGES FACED BY ARTISTS

Within the realm of artistic pursuit lie formidable challenges. Artists grapple with societal expectations, navigating the labyrinth of commercial pressures, and wrestling with the perpetual struggle for recognition. These hurdles, though daunting, become the crucible in which authenticity is forged, defining the artist’s unique journey.

EVOLVING ROLES

As society undergoes metamorphosis, so does the artist’s role. No longer mere observers, artists have become active participants in shaping conversations. They wield their creativity as a transformative force, influencing societal norms in real-time and contributing to the dynamic evolution of cultural landscapes.

ART AND EMPATHY

At the heart of art lies an extraordinary power—the ability to foster empathy. Artists, through their creations, forge connections that transcend boundaries. By inviting audiences to step into the shoes of others, they enable a profound understanding of diverse perspectives, enriching the human experience.

THE ARTIST’S RESPONSIBILITY

The delicate dance between creativity and social responsibility defines the artist’s ethical compass. They grapple with the profound implications of their work, navigating the fine line between personal expression and the potential impact on a broader audience. In this delicate balance, the artist shoulders a responsibility to inspire, challenge, and provoke thoughtful reflection.

ART IN EDUCATION

Recognizing the transformative potential of creativity, the integration of art into education becomes imperative. Fostering the next generation of artists and nurturing creative thinking contributes to a society that is not only culturally enriched but also innovative and adaptive.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Beyond its cultural contributions, the arts wield tangible economic influence. Artists contribute significantly to the economy through exhibitions, performances, and the creation of intellectual property. This underscores the intrinsic value of their work, both as a cultural force and an economic driver.

DIVERSITY IN ART

The call for diversity in the art world is a call for richness and inclusivity. Embracing artists from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures enhances the tapestry of artistic expression. This inclusivity fosters a more representative and vibrant artistic community, reflecting the true diversity of the human experience.

TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS

In the digital age, technology becomes an ally in artistic expression. From digital art that pushes the boundaries of creativity to virtual performances that transcend physical limitations, technology opens new vistas. It expands the reach and accessibility of art, democratizing creative expression on a global scale.

ART’S HEALING POWER

Beyond aesthetics, art possesses a therapeutic quality. In times of hardship, creative expression becomes a poignant tool for healing. Whether through painting, music, or other mediums, individuals find solace, navigating complex emotions and discovering catharsis through their artistic endeavors.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the artist’s role in society is a kaleidoscope of historical reflection, social commentary, cultural influence, activism, and a profound responsibility to foster empathy. As we celebrate the diversity of artistic expression, we recognize the pivotal role artists play in shaping our collective narrative, enriching our understanding of the human experience.

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Author’s bio:

Emma Rebell is a professional essay writer and author. She started writing at a young age and now takes pleasure in every moment, showcasing her perfect essay writing skills.

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Much like the Museum of Arts in Fort Collins, Black Americans and other minorities are just a blur in Fort Collins’ big picture. Google states: “Fort Collins, Colorado, sits just north of Denver, Colorado. Its Old Town historic district has 1800s houses, a vintage trolley, specialty shops and restaurants. The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery features interactive science, history, and nature exhibits, plus a digital dome theater. West of the city, trails crisscross Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, known for the peak’s distinctive Horsetooth Rock formation and Horsetooth Falls. Elevation 5,003 population 166,069.”

There’s not one mention of the Museum of Arts, even though it was here long before the Museum of Discovery. Of the 166,069 population black Americans make up a hefty 1.6 percent. However, you rarely see us represented in publications or advertisements for the city. This is the space I occupy in the story, a Black American woman in a relatively white town. I am originally from Chicago and living in a town where you see very few people and things that reflect you and your culture takes some getting used to. I have been in Fort Collins for a number of years, and I like it. The pace is slow and the traffic, not bad to someone coming from Chicago. The art scene could use a little work; however, the racial visual narrative definitely leans toward the unbalance when it comes to representing the Fort Collins population as a whole. The city’s public narratives are lacking in color in their overall presentation to the world, but hey, I figure that is why I am here. Stirring the pot.

Following some incidents at Colorado State University dealing with race and just the whole of 2020, I decided it was time for change. I started my new mantra, “Change where I stand.”  In 2020, I created the Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show in Fort Collins, A visual Arts Expo of work by Black American artists. Each September during Labor Day weekend. It is small right now, but my hope is to literally flood Fort Collins with Black American culture and people.  At a Juneteenth gathering in 2020, I showed an exhibit of my own work called We Are Still Watching to incite dialogue with the public gathered in Old Town Square. The response was most people felt they had been robbed of their education; they were saddened by the fact that they were lied to and cheated out of the truth all these years. Because they knew so little about the contributions that Black Americans had made, as well as about some of the things that white people had done to stop their progress. My finding during this time was that most people want to be united as a human race.

Artist Charly Palmer stated: “Art should change the temperature in the room”

Towards the end of 2020, I reached out to the Director of The Museum of Arts in Fort Collins, Lisa Hatchadoorian. And the exhibit A Culture Preserved in the Black Experience‘ was born.  Lisa was open to my idea of an art exhibit featuring all Black American artists. It had never been done before in Fort Collins. But that was not the only reason for doing it. She also, like I, wanted to draw attention to the lack of representation Black artists had in museums as well as the unfair treatment of Black Americans in this country. The exhibit was originally slated for January 2021 to fill a void in the museum’s exhibit schedule after 2020 left the museums budget low. After much conversation and discussion, she decided to move it to 2022. This move allowed the museum to raise the money to bring it in correctly as well as give it a prime space on their exhibit schedule.

I remember years ago when Lisa took over as the new museum director, many spoke well of her and her desire to see more impactful exhibits at the museum. Lisa is an innovative person that thinks outside the boundaries of the norm. She understood what I was trying to convey to Fort Collins and the world.  Fort Collins and the world need exhibits like this.

Actor Tom Hanks recently did an interview where he stated he found out about the Tulsa Race Riots and Black Wall Street two years ago because of an article that was in the New York Times on May 25, 2021. From his Op Ed published in the Times on June 4, 2021, he writes of his dismay and surprise: “I never read a page of any school history book about how, in 1921, a mob of white people burned down a place called Black Wall Street, killed as many as 300 of its Black citizens and displaced thousands of Black Americans who lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“Rather in my history classes, I learned that Britain’s Stamp Act helped lead to the Boston Tea Party, that ‘we’ were a free people because the Declaration of Independence said, ‘all men are created equal’, that the Whiskey Rebellion started over a tax on whiskey, that the Articles of Confederation and the Alien and Sedition Acts were cockeyed. Rightfully, Sacco and Vanzetti, Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party and the Wright Brothers had their time in my classes.

“But Tulsa was never more than a city on the prairie. The Oklahoma Land Rush got some paragraphs in one of those school years, but the 1921 burning out of the Black population that lived there was never mentioned. Nor, I have learned since, was anti-Black violence on large and small scales, especially between the end of Reconstruction and the victories of the civil rights movement; there was nothing on the Slocum massacre of Black residents in Texas by an all-white mob in 1910 or the Red Summer of white supremacist terrorism in 1919. Many students like me were told that the lynching of Black Americans was tragic but not that these public murders were commonplace and often lauded by local papers and law enforcement. How different would perspectives be had we all been taught about Tulsa in 1921, even as early as the fifth grade? Today, I find the omission tragic, an opportunity missed, a teachable moment squandered.”

This interview and his opinion is exactly why Black American art should be collected, preserved and exhibited in museums and other public historical institutions for the same reason white American painting and European counterparts art are collected and preserved. To document lives lived, stories, a culture, a time, an historical moment, and the events of a group of people. This serves to preserve in time and forever an artist’s visual interpretation of the world as he/she sees it. That story has not been allowed for the Black artist.

Our visual narratives have not been allowed to be heard, or accepted, the Black artistic voice has been silenced only accepted amongst its own communities, galleries, and at art fairs. The percentage of museum-owned Black work is staggeringly low compared to their white and European counterparts. 85.4% of the works in the collections of all major U.S. museums were created by White artists and 87.4% were by male artists. African American artists accounted for the lowest share with just 1.2% of the works. As Gerald Griffin explained in his painting 2 Buckets: “The American Dream seems to be malapportioned. Though there is abundance of life to be had in America, more often than not we as Black people are still left with 2 buckets of chicken feed.”

A Culture Preserved (in the Black Experience) represents how we as Black artists preserve our culture visually, how we speak out against injustices, how we live our lives, raise our children, our successes, and failures. It is how we pave the way for future generations and leave our mark, we were here. It reflects our strong heritage that has shaped the values, beliefs, and aspirations of a nation of people who have been stolen, beaten, and enslaved; yet thrived and survived. A people that has risen from the muck and mire, and have been continually degraded, a people that have persevered in the midst of challenges and continual oppositions to define our own identity and path.

The artwork in this exhibition takes our cultural heritage and mingles it with our present-day struggles, reaching those unobtainable and denied goals and achievements to become the voice for the Black culture community today.

“The black artist is dangerous. Black art controls the ‘Negro’s’ reality, negates negative influences, and creates positive images”. Sonia Sanchez

The Negro, Black, African American artistic story does not always paint a pretty picture of America, but it represents truth told from the Black artist perspective.

“All art is a kind of confession, more or less oblique. All artists, if they are to survive, are forced, at last, to tell the whole story; to vomit the anguish up.”

― James Baldwin

This exhibition exists for preservation, cultural awareness, and affirmation as well as to share the cultural richness of the Black community. It is designed to present to the viewer a visual narrative told through the eyes of the Black artist from around the country. It is meant to spark conversation collectively, and to create dialogue that stimulates communal growth while exploring how we as Black Americans relate to and fit within the so-called American dream where we have had to consistently reshape and reformulate our identities.

Charles Birdwhistle, former African American resident of Fort Collins in1899 said: “The Negro’s past can never be forgotten; his present is being carefully observed, and his future is yet to be made.” In so many ways, this statement is still true today, especially when it comes to Black artists’ art being collected and preserved.

Author’s Bio: Louise Cutler is a Fort Collins-based creationist, artist, sculptor, curator, vocalist, writer, and speaker. Her work is motivated by her desire to create beauty that cultivates truth, peace, and tranquility. Her painting Alone was selected to exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibit 2021, in London, England. She was a featured artist for the Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, for their Social Justice thru the Arts program. Ms. Cutler is currently the creator and founder of The Beauty of Blackness Fine Art show. The show features Black/African American artists and takes place in Fort Collins, Colorado. She also sits on the board for the Gregory Allicar Museum at Colorado State University.

Louise work can be found at www.Louisecutlerstudio.com and on https://louisecutlerstudio.wordpress.com/ Her social platforms are: https://www.instagram.com/louisecutlerstudio/ and https://www.facebook.com/LouiseCutlerStudio/

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INCREASED HOURS OF ART IN SCHOOLS CONTRIBUTES TO A CHILD’S FUTURE

In addition to the deep learning of art, the integration of any kind of art-related activity is an extremely necessary endeavor. The importance of art in schools has been demonstrated by scholars who have studied changes in children’s behavior and thinking from the early years of school.

Positive changes in outlook can be observed in those children who have had more hours of classes related to drawing, sculpting clay objects or creating figures from paper. By taking part in an art class in school, the child becomes part of society and discovers new talents.

POSITIVE ASPECTS OF ART THAT PARENTS NEED TO KEEP IN MIND

The school curriculum usually has a certain number of hours during which children have the opportunity to practice the arts. These lessons may vary from school to school. No one can discount the importance of arts education, but it is also worth remembering the importance of increasing this number of hours. We suggest that parents and each of us pay attention to what areas of a child’s present and future life are affected by the arts.

UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE

Depending on the teacher, there is an opportunity for children to create art as they see it. Feeling this freedom from the early years in school makes it easier for children  to be creative in their adult lives as well. The strong connection between art and creativity has long been proven. Creativity develops when children’s freedom is not limited to one particular adult’s vision. By giving children the opportunity to solve small problems on their own now, the level of creativity can develop unexpectedly and quickly.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE WORLD FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES

In addition to the study of the exact sciences, art appreciation should be compulsory because it has a completely different effect on a child’s thinking. In addition to learning important data, a child needs to experience the emotions associated with creating art with his or her own hands.

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THE WORLD

Bright emotions come to children through the use of bright colors. Being able to draw or describe things as the child sees them often helps him or her to see those or other natural phenomena from a different perspective. These emotions are one with the level of creativity. In this aspect, the support of teachers and help with the complex processes involved in art is very important.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCEPT OF COMPETITION

One of the interesting benefits of art programs in schools is the opportunity for the child to critically evaluate his or her own abilities. While creating an art object, the child is shown personal abilities. When the process takes place alongside other children, there will be a comparison as to how well he or she has done. By noticing that a friend painted used brighter colors, the child will make an effort to improve his or her own creation. In this way, the notion of competition and the understanding that the child can advance their creations is developed.

DEVELOPMENT OF A CRITICAL WAY OF THINKING

This aspect is related to the child’s understanding of the existence of competition. After realizing that someone can do a task better, the child automatically begins to look for ways to achieve his or her goal, namely to make his or her art object even better. In this process, the child will think about what to change or add and what might affect the end result. In the case of a child doing any kind of art on his or her own, this process will most often fade into the background. Without being able to compare, the child will not see a reason to change things.

DEVELOPING COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Some would say that children develop communication skills throughout the learning process regardless of the subjects they are studying. This is actually true. But it is also worth noting that during art classes, children feel a more informal environment. This depends directly on the child’s freedom of action in the moment and their ability to be creative. Many teachers do not forbid children to have conversations during art class. Most of them even organize lessons so that absolutely all children are part of one common process.

IMPROVEMENT OF MOVEMENT COORDINATION

In addition to the moral aspects, practicing any art helps a child develop movement coordination. Not all children instantly learn the precise movements that are important in everyday life. But by holding colored pencils or being able to model figures out of clay, a child teaches themselves how to work with their hands. In schools, teachers take time once every few months to meet with parents to talk about the child’s progress. Discussing the progress of the child’s motor skills is one of the main topics at these meetings.

UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING ABOUT CULTURE

During art lessons, children become closer to their culture. For example, in some countries, it is traditional to create patterns on fabric with a needle and thread. When the teacher combines hands-on activities with stories about where the tradition came from, the children become closer to their own culture. In every school, we can meet children who come from different cultures. By using art as a tool to explore world cultures, we are teaching our children to be more open-minded. This is one huge reason why should arts be taught in schools from the early years.

THE WAY TO RELEASE EMOTIONS AND STRESS

It’s no secret that children often don’t want to share their problems or personal emotions. By using art and being able to create things as the child sees them, an adult can understand and trace the cause of a child’s anxiety. A teacher who has a trusting relationship with a child can ask the child to express his or her thoughts through a painting. In this case, the child relieves himself or herself of the stress of painting.

THE USE AND EXPLORATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

The more technology develops, the more it is used in the school curriculum. One striking example is virtual reality devices. Their use can be limitless. Children can create virtual pictures, see projections of their movements in digital space, and so on. Such a process is not only boundlessly fun but also allows children to become familiar with the technology. In this way, from the very first years of school, the child will perceive technological progress as something normal and obvious.

THE ARTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS

The therapeutic influence of art on people’s lives has long shown positive progress. Regardless of a child’s thinking, art teaches him or her to be part of society, to perceive competition in an appropriate way, and to solve problems starting with elementary problems. When a teacher gives attention to art lessons, it is also a great chance to find the talent in children and give them the opportunity to develop. That is why it is so important to start practicing any kind of art from the first years of school.

Creating a strong bond between people, art connects the minds and hearts of students. With proper supervision and the use of the right tools, an art teacher can teach a child a dozen things he needs in his future life. Kindness, responsiveness, and the ability to find ways to communicate are often formed in the process of practicing art. This is why the importance of art is so often discussed during curriculum development between teachers and parents.

About the Author: Olivia Hungtington is a professional digital marketer and content creator for  ​https://jatapp.com/ IT company. ​​Olivia also has years of experience in blogging and writes about marketing, technology, app development, culture, and more.

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Besides changing the form and view of fine arts, media culture has redefined the audience of fine art and enabled budding artists to unleash their creativity. This article views the impact of media culture on fine arts and the views of various professionals.

Who are These Professionals?

We sampled four professionals with vast exposure in either field for a better glance into the relationship between fine arts and media culture. Our research entails the views of Lee Rainee, Sandra Arnold, Daron Fogelson, and Eyal Gever.

Rainee is the director of internet and technological research for the Pew Research Center. Their publication (Impact of Mass Media on Fine Arts) with Kristin Thomson and Kristen Purcell outlines the benefits and threats posed by mass media to the fine arts industry.

Doron is the vice president for media and entertainment practice at dataart.com and has vast software development and business analysis exposure. Eyal Gever is an Israeli 3D digital sculptor, and Sandra Arnold an author at AmericanVideotape.com with vast exposure to media culture.

What are Mass Culture and Fine Arts?

To understand the correlation between fine arts and media culture, we must define each field. Media culture refers to the overall impact and intellectual direction provided by mass media.

This refers to the culture that arises under the influence of mass media. On the other hand, fine arts mainly hold an aesthetic value and have a minor functional role.

The Impact of Media Culture on Fine Arts 

1. Access to a Larger Audience

The strive for new clients is a primary goal for many private establishments. Unlike previous years, visits to galleries and art showrooms have been on a constant drop.

This is mainly because millennials have been accustomed to socializing and transacting on online social platforms. Fogelson cites millennials as the primary online consumers of fine art, necessitating an outreach approach that promotes optimal interactions with millennials.

Unlike traditional galleries, mass media exposes fine art to larger specific audiences, thus promoting individual styles. According to Gever, this helps diversify the art industry compared to the traditional dogmatic approach, where gallery owners determined what was suitable for the audience.

The sophistication of technology allows budding artists to break into the field and gain exposure without being overshadowed by famous works.

Unlike showrooms where renowned artists had better chances of landing a spot on the gallery walls, media culture creates room for different styles and tastes and connects artists to the right audience.

2. Monetization of Artwork

At an Artist’s Level

Although media culture ranks as an excellent tool for maximizing the consumer base of fine arts, it is more limiting to individual growth. First, arts have been leveraged as tools for advertisement (Impact of Mass Media on Fine Arts, 2013), thus offer the most benefits to large corporations and established graphic designers.

Even worse, the saturation of fine arts has presented artists with a challenge to monetize their work. This is significantly due to the plethora of royalty-free art platforms, which have instilled consumers with the notion that art should be free.

The publication further shows that fine arts exposure on digital platforms has caused decreased attendance at in-person events, thus crippling ticket sales at art galleries and expositions.

Sandra Arnold implores media culture for serving as a leeway for novice artists to realize optimal growth. Consequentially, this lowers the value of fine art and makes it hard for artists to earn a living from their skills.

However, talent exposure to a specific audience provides quality support, which artists require to advance their careers. Gever identifies one such benefit of media culture: it allows artists to enjoy crowdfunding and pursue their interests.

Art Galleries and Museums

Although media culture is associated with the downfall of galleries, Fogelson offers a neat approach that allows art galleries to expose their work to a larger audience and gain more income. Fogelson suggests the gamification of museums in virtual realities similar to Minecraft. This approach would appeal to millennials and broaden the sources of income to range from in-game purchases to licensing of cultural assets.

By embracing this approach, art museums could retain their publicity and gain the upper hand in event planning. Additionally, galleries could make the most of virtual events, thus exposing their work to a larger audience.

This allows for flexibility in operations, efficient ticket sales and also paves the way for digital arts.

1. A Threat to Traditional Artistry

Like Sandra Arnold, many artists feel that media culture is slowly ridding art of the human touch. Unlike traditional artists, modern artists rely on a mouse, a touchpad, and a computer to create enigmatic output.

Even worse, there is a surge of AI projects which can produce quality art with little human intervention. This may impair judgment of quality art and make it hard for artists to gain a reputation in the field.

2. A Boost in Creativity

Media culture has greatly revolutionized art to meet the demands of the current audience. Besides connecting artists to relevant markets, media culture grants artists all the essential tools to bring their creativity to life.

Final Verdict

Although the fine arts are essential for their aesthetic appeal, today they are significantly driven by mass culture. While the former threatens the traditional arts field, it offers an excellent chance for fine art to grow in value and popularity.

For this, artists have to collaborate with current and upcoming technologies and adapt to the changes in consumer demands.

Author Bio: Timothy Miller is an author with vast exposure to software development, online art markets, and AI. Owing to his exposure, Miller offers academic and expert help on Mypaperwriter.com, thus helps students and employers resolve various challenges.

References:

Section 6: Overall Impact of Technology on the Arts. (2013). Retrieved 20 May 2021, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2013/01/04/section-6-overall-impact-of-technology-on-the-arts/

Gever, E. (2012). Technology and art: Engineering the future. Retrieved 20 May 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19576763

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“I decided that as an artist myself I outright to come up with a way to inhabit that space [and] bring people to the barren landscape.” Jim started painting local characters on large flat boards and hanging them on the fence near the vacant lot. Gradually, other local groups began to suggest other interim uses for the lot and small events began to pop up in the unused space. This is when Bliesner realized the vacant space would make a great platform for an art installation.

Typically, installations happen in museums where they decide on a concept and commission an artist to build it in a designated space. Bliesner thought “why couldn’t we do that?”

As a Plein air painter himself, Jim has also done other sculptures in City Heights with a focus on community engagement. Therefore, he decided this new installation should include other artists. “I [wanted] to see the local artists in City Heights emerge so I drafted an invite prioritizing [local artists] but included everyone. I was hoping for a cross-fertilization experience.”

Bliesner soon received a $2,000 fund from the Synergy Foundation and searched for artists to help him create the sculpture. He received interest from sixteen artists and gave them each $100 for materials to build the sculpture. The group of artists worked with a variety of materials including wood, chicken wire, old tires, scarves, and more. Artists include Edwin Lohr, Carlos Quezada, Marcus Montes, Tarrah Aroonsakool, Iain Gunn, Dianne Brunner, and Randy Lane, Vicente Rivera, Elida Chavez, Pete Evaristo, Melody De Los Cabos, and Mia Mercado a twelve-year-old emerging artist attending SCPA. Half of the artists are from City Heights and the other half from other cities.

The sculpture is planted in an old tire and filled with three 60 pound bags of cement with two upright bricks. “The variety [is] electric. The characters emerged for each artist’s personal struggle and design. The art became the art.” says Jim.

The sculpture will remain present until the lot is needed for future events. It can be viewed by locals from the sidewalk or driveby, making it a free “event” where art enthusiasts can gather and take in the beauty of the sculpture.

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Some artists focused on the eerie silence left behind by the intense lockdowns from March to June, while others tried to find ways to spread hope, motivation, and courage even in this bleak time. Unsurprisingly, many graffiti and street artists have incorporated COVID-19 themes into their work this past year.

As the virus is under some control, and lockdowns are gradually being lifted across the world, people have started stepping outside with precautionary measures. Muralists are taking this as an opportunity to utilize public places to showcase art and spread awareness. Toilet papers, face masks, and disinfectants are some of the common subjects of street artists. However, others are emphasizing boosting immunity, enhancing will power, and staying fit.

Here, we share with you some of the most creative COVID-19 themed art adorning cities all over the world. These contributions are popping up with each passing day as artists are becoming more and more involved. Some well-known murals related to COVID-19 are:

The gratitude, dedication, and support provided by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 crisis are the most common subjects in street art. One graffiti artist in London did a commendable job highlighting the contribution of doctors during the pandemic. In the mural picturized above, the artists paid homage to junior doctors.

He specifically highlighted the contributions of resident doctors because they are constantly putting their lives at risk, work more, and are paid less in comparison to the senior physicians. However, they are still working day and night with full enthusiasm. An artwork specially dedicated to the resident staff boosts their morale and show them that their contributions are appreciated.

At a time when street artists were focusing on common pandemic related themes, Italian street artist Laika took a different step and focused on the restaurant staff. Since eateries are now opening, Laika focused on a Chinese restaurant owner, Sonia, wearing a fully covered gown along with a face mask.

Sonia’s message in Italian translates to “There’s an epidemic of ignorance going around… we must protect ourselves!”The artist tried to give a message that though the restaurants are opening, precautionary measures are still important. People working at the restaurant are equally affected by the pandemic. Thus, they are back to work but at risk and following new operating procedures.

Another great example is seen in Amsterdam, where the famous street artist FAKE painted a nurse with a Superman logo, titled Super Nurse! The nurse is shown wearing a mask, which is a typical representation of COVID-19. What is unusual is that she has the “S” logo of Superman on the front of the nurse’s uniform, reminding everyone that nurses, along with other frontline workers, are the true superheroes. 

The idea is to highlight the exceptional role played by the nursing staff in this condition of turmoil. These nurses are putting their life in danger serving the COVID-19 patients. Not just in the critical care unit, they are also doing the testing. The artwork received great recognition and appreciation globally, and it was selected as a digital art installation in London.

In Germany, another street artist, Uzey, took up his paints to encourage people to stay strong despite the hardships the pandemic has brought. The art shows a fully covered person carrying a pack of COVID-19 germs in his hand. The picture reveals that no matter how covered a person is, the virus is everywhere. Thus, maintaining social distance and practicing isolation is the only safe solution. Various colors used in the artwork are intended to bring some light to the colorless life these days. This street art gives a friendly message to humanity and tries to boost morale.

In Indonesia, a campaign related to COVID-19 murals started in August 2020. This street art in Jakarta quickly gained popularity as it depicts the message very clearly and powerfully. It highlights many things: firstly, it shows that the man is carrying a shield, which is somewhat similar to a mask, and therefore subconsciously, you are made to think that wearing a mask is the best defense against the virus.

Secondly, it brings a message of hope for the masses – it gives strength to the affected individuals for regaining their health. People who are still in a state of fear can also get some motivation from the thought-provoking art. It shows that we can fight and overcome any germ or virus, only if we have the will and if we take the right measures.

Some fans even interpreted the painting with respect to organizations that stood firm to safeguard society. Most notably, healthcare and human service organizations, but also small businesses and individuals initiated small efforts to help their communities from the financial and emotional effects of the pandemic.

For instance, many individuals started campaigns to buy from small businesses in their community to keep them from going out of business. Similarly, small businesses, like cleaning companies, started offering door-to-door and contact-less services for the safety of their clients.

Another street artist drew this painting of a nurse who is covered from head to toe in a gown, gloves, and face mask. She is portrayed as an angel of love with colorful wings. The artist showed how the nurse is ready to go for work. Such contributions for supporting the doctors, nurses, testing professionals, and the janitorial staff seems valuable in this crucial time. These people are the real heroes who are diligently performing their duties in high-risk areas.

Conclusion

In short, COVID-19 murals are brightening the streets across the globe. From humorous and playful styles to more serious and sympathetic themes, street artists have done an excellent job highlighting the issue. From highlighting the importance of healthcare workers to aiming at reviving the mood of infected individuals, each has highlighted the importance of working through the pandemic together.

Along with the artists mentioned here, tons of other artists like Pebsy, Pyritt, AFK, Jesus Cruz, and many others have made valuable contributions. They’ve expressed a collective feeling of fear, rage, and frustration developed during the lockdowns and isolations. And they have also helped us in regaining lost hope.

Thinking out of the box and taking out time in stenciling and painting the walls is a commendable step in uniting the society in this unprecedented time. Was one your favorite?

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Nouman provides ghostwriting and copywriting services. His educational background in the technical field and business studies helps him in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing. He occasionally writes articles for carpet cleaning. 

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We will discuss 10 ways artists are changing society and contributing to the well-being of the global community.

1. Artists articulate universal emotion

A typical person tends to hide feelings and everyday problems, but that’s where artists step in to articulate universal emotion. We all have our fears, hopes, dreams, and illusions, but it seems like artists are the only ones who can express it clearly.

For instance, you can write amazing college papers, but only a genuine novelist can write stories that have a universal meaning. This is the primary role of all artists – to express human emotion and help us all to feel hope and peace of mind.

2. Artists are there to tell the truth

There are countless socially responsible artists who strongly believe they must tell the truth to the world when everybody else pretends not to see it. Take Banksy as an example because he always finds a way to point out social injustice in a creative manner. Not every artist is as direct and up-to-the-point as Banksy, but the fact remains that poets, sculptors, and other artists are there to remind us in their creative way of the things we can’t or don’t want to see.

3. Artists are breaking the norms

Of course, artists are also in charge of breaking the norms and discovering uncharted territories. They are the avant-garde, individuals whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods.

We are not talking about art exclusively. On the contrary, artists are also known for breaking social norms and introducing new behavior patterns to local communities. Their influence can be more or less productive, but artists will always be looking for opportunities to break the norms and guide society.

4. Artists pass on the tradition

This responsibility of an artist is totally different than when they break the norm. And the two do not exclude each other. As a matter of fact, they support and augment each other to generate the only natural synthesis of artistic work. Artists pass on tradition and preserve our cultural norms in various formats. Even when they introduce changes to tradition, they cannot do it without relying on earlier techniques and norms.

5. Artists are pointing out problems

Can you imagine the world without artists who point out and describe some of the most important problems of a given era? Of course, the answer is “no” because it would make the history of art a lot less fruitful. For instance, Picasso’s mural Guernica still stands as one of the major protest notes against fascism. Guernica depicts the massacre of a Basque village in 1937 and it has become a representation of every city ever bombed.

6. Artists bring joy to the world

We must not forget one simple fact – artists bring joy to the world. They have the power to inspire people. They make us laugh, they make us impressed, and they make us thrilled by just looking or listening to their masterpieces. You don’t need to go beyond Ode to Joy, the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The song was so popular that it eventually became the official anthem of the European Union. That’s how important art can be to our world.

7. Artists reflect community values

Consciously or not, every artist is reflecting the values of his/her community. They act as passionate analysts of local societies and you can instantly spot it in their paintings, poems, novels, sculptures, and other works of art. This is exactly why it’s so easy to make a distinction between communist artists and their colleagues coming from liberal societies. Of course, you can also see major differences between artworks coming from different cultures, countries, ages, and so on.

8. Artists create a sense of belonging to the community

Artists are also responsible for creating a sense of belonging to the wider community. We are not talking about national communities only, but rather about all groups of like-minded individuals. For example, some artists inspire political groups, while others support different lifestyle groups. This is why you can often hear that rock and roll is a way of life rather than art. We can say pretty much the same thing for every other type of art and artistic community.

9. Artists promote and encourage cultural diversity

It’s hard to imagine a country in the 21^st century that is not multinational and multicultural. As it turns out, artists have a huge responsibility to promote multiculturalism and break the borders of a national mindset. This is why we can say that some artists are the best ambassadors of their countries. For instance, Fela Kuti made people pay attention to the African culture, while Haruki Murakami popularized Japanese literature among young generations of the Western world.

10. Artists sometimes serve as propagandists

Art sometimes takes the wrong turn and becomes nothing but propaganda, which is why we need to mention it as one of the great responsibilities of modern artists. A famous film director Leni Riefenstahl strongly contributed to the rise of the Third Reich, the same way Sergei Eisenstein helped the Soviet revolutionary propaganda in the first half of the 20^th century and James Montgomery Flagg’s “I Want You” helped recruit soldiers for the first and second World Wars.

The Bottom Line

It’s hard to claim that painters, writers, and other artists have any kind of social responsibility, but they can definitely influence our societies and make the world a better place. An artist can play many different roles, but these can certainly be considered the top of the list of the impact a creative individual can have on their communities, and on society and culture at large.

Author Bio

Leon Collier is a blogger at the nursing essay writing service. He also creates essay writing service reviews and discusses topics such as pop-culture, history, travel, self-development, and marketing. When not writing, you can see Leon behind a book or playing tabletop games with his friends. Follow him on Twitter @LeonCollier12

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