Art is everywhere; it can be found in homes, on the outsides of buildings- even in nature. The reason art has held out for centuries on end is because it is integral to human life and creativity.
The presence of art in schools is essential to the success of students. The constant achievement at PV is caused by the variety of students’ abilities- one being art. In the upcoming weeks, the art club at the high school will be painting a mural on the east side of the school.
Participation in the arts produces students who know how to think creatively, critically and uniquely. The art club at PV is thriving, with around 10-15 members who fluctuate between every project. It may not sound like much, but a dozen people working on one assignment makes for very high quality work.
The nature of the art club is one of the factors that feeds into the school’s success. For their newest project, the club proposed a mural to be painted by the senior benches. The theme of the mural is about the unity and diversity that PV strives for.
Spartan Assembly member and project leader Emmie Peters gives insight on the project. “The mural is a great way for us to promote unity and morale at PV, and we hope that other people can be just as excited to work together on it,” she said.
“As a school, I think the mural is just one way we can come together with a common goal and embrace all the things that make us different, whether it’s our ideas or just our personalities as a community,” Peters continued.
The goal of the mural is to bring awareness to the culture and backgrounds of different students. The depiction is planned to show different types of people doing everyday things to represent all students at PV.
The project shows why art is essential to education. According to Harvard Medical School, “Creative activities can relieve stress, aid communication and help arrest cognitive decline.”
The article goes on to discuss that through research it is shown that, “…expressing themselves through art can help people with depression, anxiety, or cancer…” Not only does art promote mental health, but it allows physical health to thrive as well.
On top of feeling less stressed and having greater physical health, art club members are able to highlight the differences and similarities they encounter daily. According to art teacher and club leader Aimee Peters, the painting will be located on the walls by the so-called “senior benches.” “We’re hoping the mural will encourage people to be more inclusive, especially in that area. Instead of being the senior benches, we want to make all students feel welcome in the school,” she said.
The art club at PV has created many other projects that Peters is very proud of. “Last week we tie-dyed shirts and are doing silk screening with them. This year we’ve also had several artists come in and teach a lesson on different art forms. We’re learning how to abstract paint and do unique things like paper making.”
On the website, the inclusive nature of the club is clearly shown. “Art club is for anyone who wishes to add a little bit of creativity into their day, not just those enrolled in art classes,” it states.
Art is a topic that has proved to be very important to the high school, and it should remain that way. Art allows students to express themselves, highlight issues and become healthier people. Through the mural, the acceptance at PV will be even further tolerated than it is now.
