Art can be found everywhere. From street art to the art in your home, we are constantly surrounded by it. There are many different styles of the performing arts, such as dancing, signing, and acting.

Art can be interpreted in many different ways. Each person has their own definition of what art means to them. Art can also impact each of us differently.  

Ms. Smith, an art teacher at the iSchool, gives her opinion on how she thinks art impacts the iSchool. She talks about what she teaches her students, and how she thinks her classes will help them in the future. Mr. Mulroy, a science teacher at the iSchool, and student Ruby Germack, a 9th grader, explain what art means to them. Their answers gave an overall consensus of how the iSchool is impacted by art.

Ms. Smith shares why she got involved teaching art  “…what drew me to it was the idea of giving students a voice. I think that young people go through a lot of changes and this is a complicated world and I think it’s important for young people to have a way to express themselves, or have many ways.”

Studies have been done to show the importance that art can have on a school. When kids aren’t exposed to art, they miss out on the chance to be creative. Art can build confidence in students and can give them a way to express themselves.

A study done by 35 Seneca Academy lists the benefits that the arts can have on a school. This study says that “1) Working in the arts helps learners to develop creative problem solving skills. 2) Teaching through the arts can present difficult concepts visually, making them more easy to understand. Not every student learns the same way. Adding art to a lesson adds variety and a different way of learning. Not only can art be a creative outlet, but it can also help students with their academic work.

Have you ever walked into a room and your mood changes? Maybe you feel more energized or you feel tired or sleepy. This may have to do with the colors, or maybe the art, surrounding you. It has been proven that colors have the ability to change a mood.

The article “Color Psychology: Does It Affect How You Feel?”  explains how colors can affect the way you feel. “Color is a powerful communication tool and can be used to signal action, influence mood, and even influence physiological reactions. Certain colors have been associated with increased blood pressure, increased metabolism, and eyestrain.” Each color has a different effect. Schools can use this knowledge to their benefit. If a student is surrounded by artwork in which the color blue is used, they might calm down or feel less stressed. This can help them with their academic work.

Ms. Smith talked about how she feels artwork has impacted the iSchool: “It gives students a chance to express their ideas through visual materials. It gives them, I try to give them, some basic skill that they can use so that if they want to go on and do more art, they have some basic drawing and color mixing skills. I think it helps them think creatively, which will help no matter what they do going forward. So even if they don’t do anything with the arts, I think it’s still useful to be able to think creatively about whatever your doing.” It’s no secret that creativity is very important anywhere, especially at a workplace.

Ms. Smith also talked about how students’ artwork impacts the “vibe” of the school. “I think as a school, it really makes the school come to life a little bit… I think students feel proud when they see their work up on the wall. It gives a nice dimension to the vibe of the school.” Schools don’t always feel welcoming or happy. Having artwork in the hallways definitely makes the school more welcoming and can encourage the students to work. It gives the school more personality and shines light on individual students.

Ruby Germack, a 9th grader, described art as “Something that is creative and has meaning. This could be through movement or a physical object. And it expresses something.” Art doesn’t have to be a drawing or a picture. Art could also be a dance.

The iSchool is full of art expressed through drawing and painting. It doesn’t explore the other art forms such as acting, dance or singing. Each student has their own way of expressing themselves. This shouldn’t be limited to just drawing. If more art forms were apart of the iSchool, there would be an even bigger impact on school culture.

Mr. Mulroy interpreted art as more of a personal matter. He said, “ Art is an expression of an individual’s feeling about their world.” As teenagers, we are going through a lot of changes, “our world” is expanding as we learn and understand more about it.  Throughout the day students face a lot of stress, socially or academically. We have classes back to back. Having an art class releases that stress and gives students an outlet to express their feelings about their expanding and confusing world.

This is a complicated world and it’s important for teenagers to be able to express our ideas and thoughts. Art is one of the ways we can do that. Bringing together our ideas and expressing ourselves through artwork can make a big impact on the iSchool.