Art benefits academic performance

 

By Hope Wallace

So how do pretty pictures help with education? Seems silly doesn’t it? How can a drawing of a tree benefit a child’s academic performance? The controversy about the importance of arts education has been raging for quite awhile now, and many point to the onset of standardized testing in schools as the leading cause of rampant arts education decline. Attention and funds are being concentrated on keeping up test scores so a school will receive adequate funding. As a result often the arts and other perceived less important areas are left to languish.

Like most things, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Playing Mozart to a pregnant belly probably won’t have much effect on the infant, but there are more less obvious ways the arts contribute to effective learning.

Let’s start with attention span. Art is usually more fun than an algebra problem, unless perhaps you are a 13-year-old already in your sophomore year at Harvard. A challenging art project can often require longer expanses of attention, which helps the brain learn how to sustain long periods of focused thinking. While that algebra problem may not have gotten any more juicy, the ability to stay on task has increased. Learning to keep going and learning from mistakes can be demonstrated through art.

Being able to visualize a problem and a potential way to solve it is also strengthened by art. Visualizing an outcome from a science experiment or envision how that historic Battle at Little Big Horn might have looked. Expressing emotions can be difficult for any age, but sometimes viewing an artwork or listening to music can help us connect. (Would we cry as readily in a sad movie if we couldn’t hear the music?) Art can help heighten empathy. It connects, engages and creates a personal sense of identification within a cultural community. Drawing something makes you spend more time observing it and helps you notice details that might otherwise be overlooked.

Who isn’t proud of something they’ve created, whether it’s a great meal or a compelling painting? Increased confidence helps students press on in areas where they might otherwise feel shy. So, while the benefits of arts education and exposure do not easily fit into standard statistics they can increase attention span, make learning through mistakes more palpable, increase visualization skills, increase empathy, observation skills, and increase sense of belonging and personal confidence. You can learn more about how the arts enhance learning in the book “Studio Thinking” by Lois Hetland and Ellen Winner.

Here at the Wassenberg, we just love red “sold” dots. Red dots mean support for our participating artists. There are several on the walls now indicating sold items. Thank you to the people who support our current exhibiting artists Douglas Fiely, Chelsea Younkman and Matthew Paskiet. This exhibit is on view until August 24 so stop in and get yourself a dramatic etching, a charcoal drawing depicting the challenges of corporate life or a glass sculpture that challenges the depth of a clear sea on a blue-sky day.

Instructor Pat Rayman returns August 6 for our ongoing morning watercolor class beginning at 10 a.m. Give us a call or email if you would like to sign up.

Speaking of watercolor, we have just a couple more weeks until the Tom Lynch Watercolor workshop, which begins Aug. 6 and runs through Aug. 9. Immerse yourself in all-day instruction from this world-renowned watercolor artist. Cost is $125 per day with a 2-day minimum with the first day of the workshop mandatory. Save $50 for a 4-day sign up, $450. Sign up now, these spaces are going fast! You can sign up on our website or simply call the art center, we’ll be happy to help.

If you have any questions regarding exhibits, classes or programs or would like to get involved please call the Wassenberg Art Center at 419.238.6837, email info@wassenbergartcenter.org or you may register online at wassenbergartcenter.org. Hours during exhibits are: Tuesday through Sunday 1–5 p.m. The Wassenberg Art Center is currently located at 643 S. Washington St. in Van Wert.