The Arts and Health

For many people, accepting the undeniable relationship between a non-toxic environment to good health is pretty easy.  Without clean air and water, nutritious food, the possibility of good health is questionable.  People are unlikely to argue there is no relationship between these two factors  But to make a parallel between robust Arts engagement in a culture and good health is a bigger leap.  Why is this?  Primarily, the Arts in schools and in a culture are considered a "frill" or negligible.  In a world straining to make greater in-roads on science and math (an admitted well-paved bridge to health), the Arts are considered a superficial entertainment or past time.  I want to challenge this.

I recently attended a dinner party where the subject of government forgiveness of student loans came up.  One person suggested young people who had acquired science and math degrees should have their loans forgiven, as their skill sets would be necessary for the competitive economic future of the country.  The inevitable, "What about the kids with photography degrees?" point was played and the answer was, "We don't need more photographers, they're a dime a dozen.  Liberal/fine arts majors should have thought to have gotten a more useful, sensible degree."

"Art doesn't transform. It just plain forms."--Roy Lichtenstein

For those of us who have explored our creativity through our lifetime, survived high school and young adulthood because of the open art classroom, patiently learned the beguiling centering process on a potter's wheel,  or experimented with fascination the technological edges of photography as a  medium because we were so entirely bored with rote learning-- words like that diner's, well they are an ignorant, demeaning and dangerous insinuation, a dagger to the heart (if I may be allowed some dramatic license) to what makes people human.  For those who have sacrificed financial gain in a greed-centric culture, committing to be an artist, often at a great cost, or for those who have played with music or poetry-making on weekends to maintain their mental health, the arts are an imperative need for the feeding of Spirit, part of the process of an entire culture's evolution and yes, our health.

A physiotherapist I know has made the possibly edgy statement that all people no matter what condition their bodies are in, are athletes.  So it is also, all people are artists.  Some might not be able to draw realistically, or have a great spatial sense, nonetheless they/we are all  artists because we all are beings of spirit.  All human beings have this major aspect of Spirit embedded in themselves.  We come pre-loaded.  If this is not explored in one way or other, if our creativity is not employed in our lives, we become less, and what animates us is at risk.  This is health.  It is a sublime and often invisible reality each of us lives. It should never be discounted or marginalized, as that diner (and probably so many other 'practical' others) would have us do.  Creativity is a commodity. The arts ultimately determine the success of a culture (the beauty, peace and questioning manifested).

The creative in oneself gives the subtle aspects of ourselves room.  Seeing a play, going to a concert, watching exquisitely trained dancers on a stage provides us with a spacious experience, broadens an often shut-down, or at the very least, limited perspective.  The vitality of expression resonates with one's spirit vitality.  Energetically, vibration is transferred, exchanged; we are renewed, replenished.  Is this not health?  Is there not a direct correlation to one's health and creative exploration?

"I do not want ART for a few any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few."  
William Morris 

Which brings us to the Right brain/Left brain aspect of ourselves.  For most of us, one hemisphere of our brains is dominant over the other. "Left-brained" is often said to be more logical, analytical and objective, while a person who is "right-brained" is said to be more intuitive, thoughtful and subjective. Science has shown, when both halves of the brain work together math skills are actually strongest.  We have this entire physiology to use, appreciate and honor.

My points above about art are not so much about differences in "brain-ness", but about fulfilling spirit in our lives, an important part of our physiology that is under the radar, but which impacts our actions, our mental well being, our health. It is my sense that the diner who failed to appreciate arts expression (or education) isn't so much left brained, but weak in a more spacious thinking capacity, someone who hasn't had the good fortune of a broad(minded) education (something a good liberal arts education would have given him).  I recall once watching a completely alive three year old for over 45 minutes as she explored with a limitless, nimble imagination, her world.  Talking to herself, she being the main character in a story she was deeply evolving, jumping up participating in a hand sewing endeavor for awhile, rolling out of that to put marker to page, drawing connections.  What a learning!  What a way to discover the world and herself!  Of course, creative play is more acceptable for children, than it is for adults.  But that is a culture more; exploring creativity is essential in every part of one's life continuum.  Seeing "brain-ness" as a complete package rather than a positive or negative (depending on propensity) is an inclusive, non-violent acceptance of the whole of me.

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." -- Albert Einstein