Whether you went to Wilmington University to get your Doctorate like Dr. Roach, you’re an aspiring artist, or you have no creative bone in your body and are just experimenting with art, Art Club is always open for new members.
Art is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, “something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings”. Many people use art to express themselves (whether it’s on a canvas or a series of movements) and the way they feel or think about something. Art is used to explain the unknown, or to record a time, place, person, or object. Art can be used to tell a story, make others see clearly, and sometimes to just make a favorable environment. Sometimes we use art to create an illusion or magic, predict the future, or even remember the past. The possibilities of art are endless, and the sky isn’t close to being the limit.
For Dr. Rosetta Roach (instructor for the Visual Arts program within the Capital School District) art is one of her outlets. It allows her to express herself, while also giving the chance to teach and inspire others. Dr. Roach’s ability to teach and inspire others was expanded in 2002, the year Central Middle’s Art Club was established. Art Club has been on and off for the past couple of years, but is slowly and progressively growing.
Art can have many different positive impacts on those that create it. In 2010, the American Journal of Public Health published a review titled, The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health. In that article, researchers analyzed more than 100 studies about the impact of art on your health and your ability to heal yourself. The studies included everything from music and writing to dance and the visual arts. Patients who were battling chronic illness such as cancer found that art, “Distracted thoughts of illness”, “Improved well-being by decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive ones”, and also, “Improved medical outcomes, trends toward reduced depression”. Although you may not be facing any illness, art can make a great effort towards helping you cope with stress and anxiety.
Joining Art Club is a great step to be able to communicate more about your art. “Members share with each other and the community,” Dr. Roach says. Art Club is giving back to the community by putting a mural they will design on the sides of a giant shipping truck. The mural focuses on going green, and preserving earth’s nature and animals. Art Club does many things similar to this that are both in and outside of school. Art Club is also submitting 3 Dimensional sculptures to the Biggs Museum of American Art as a part of an upcoming gallery, which is located in downtown Dover, Delaware, and will be open to the public. Art Club regularly meets after school on Wednesdays in the art room (unless scheduled otherwise).
Dr. Roach’s advice for young aspiring artist is to practice, practice, and practice. She also says, “Art is a way of life, everything we do revolves around art. Creative thinking is the key to everything because we live in a world that is changing rapidly. Creative thinkers are problem solvers and are the leaders we need to progress in the world.”
Sources:
Am J Public Health. 2010 February; 100(2): 254–263.
Rosetta, R. (2015, December 15). Personal interview.
“Definition of art by Merriam-Webster.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Encyclopædia Britannica Company, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.
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