Broken pots with words like, “voter suppression” and “DACA” are repaired with a glue representing the arts. With all of the current events going on, many people have been able to find support and comfort through the arts. Illustration by Lilli Sams
Kintsugi, translating to “golden joinery,” is a Japanese art form where cracked or broken ceramics are repaired with gold in a way that highlights the cracks rather than concealing them. Those pieces are then considered more beautiful as they are given a second life.
This pandemic has magnified the cracks in society. Data from the Antiracist Research & Policy Center and the COVID Tracking Project shows that the COVID-19 death rate for Black people is two, in some states three, times that of the national average. Deaths and other non-deadly cases of the virus among Black and Latinx populations are each disproportionately higher in their respective populations. Job losses caused by the pandemic are disproportionately affecting people of color and women.
The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rashard Brooks and numerous others by racist police brutality split everything wide open. The sustained nationwide energy behind the Black Lives Matter movement is unlike anything I’ve seen in my adult life. This time feels different. From these cracks, now is the time for growth and change.
“The sustained nationwide energy behind the Black Lives Matter movement is unlike anything I’ve seen in my adult life. This time feels different.”
I don’t want to diminish the impact of individual events by making a generalization – the pandemic, racist police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, the much-needed removal of Confederate monuments, voter suppression, the continuation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and more, are each significant in shaping our current living experience.
However, in the uncertainty and confusion of our current times, the things that have brought me comfort while providing an opportunity to take action are community and the arts. All of the events in our current world are why, especially now and as we consider returning to schools, we need to recognize the vital importance of the arts in our schools.
Education is a fundamental part of a democratic society, a society that believes in justice, freedom and equality. That’s the ultimate goal, and while it’s clear from the collective events of 2020 alone that we are not there yet, there are moments of hope and progress. In those moments the value of the arts is highlighted.
Think back to the beginning of the pandemic, when schools had just closed and there were many unknowns. How did you seek comfort and community? Was it through creating visual art or playing music, writing, listening to a favorite artist or watching a movie or series, learning a new TikTok dance, or experimenting with makeup tutorials? The arts provide an outlet to process thoughts and express emotions. They provide a therapeutic escape from being stuck in our thoughts. They work to nurture our identities and provide a space to share cultures and beliefs. These subjects are, in short, life-giving.
“The arts provide an outlet to process thoughts and express emotions. They provide a therapeutic escape from being stuck in our thoughts.”
Look at the photographs and videos from the BLM protests. Pay close attention to the power in the poetry and imagery of the protest signs. Think about the united energy of the spoken word in protest call and response chants.
Look at photographs of Confederate monuments like the statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia, or the one that is here in Athens on Broad Street. Look at how the space has been transformed using graffiti, an art form that is itself marginalized and stereotyped (and also illegal, don’t try this one at home). See how the monument has become a new, transformed site to celebrate Black lives and a future inspired by change.
Look at the vast array of visual, educational posts using a graphic design that are being shared on social media.
Listen to the power that is in song lyrics. Think of the quote from the musical Hamilton, “This is not a moment, it’s a movement.” Look at how protest spaces have been infused with joy with dancing and singing.
All of these examples combine the power of envisioning and imagining change through the arts. It’s relatively easy to identify the shortcomings of our society. It takes imagination, problem-solving, and creativity, all of which are nurtured and developed in the arts, to envision and develop a better future. Including the arts in education offers the opportunity to develop the tools and skills needed to imagine and inspire a more just and equal world.
As conversations are circulating about schools reopening, effects of distance learning, and getting students “back on track,” I urge everyone to take a moment to reflect on what the purpose of education is and how to determine its success. Education is important not only for preparing students for college or a career, it’s important because it shapes who they are, how they view their community and their sense of place, and influences their social relations within the world.
