ART – IT’s TRUE VALUE!

I love art. I love both visual & performing art. I love to walk museums and look at paintings, sculpture, graphics, photography & illustrations. I love music, movies and plays. But a banana for millions of dollars. Sorry I didn’t get it. I have nothing against bananas. I love them. I would eat more if they weren’t so high in sugar. The less brown spots, the better.

The banana, which is part of the conceptual artwork called Comedian by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, sold for $6.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction on November 20, 2024. Supposedly the value isn’t the fruit. Obviously! I can purchase bananas for .38 cents per pound on good days.  It is in the “certificate of authenticity and the instructions for its display” so it was said. The buyer was entrepreneur Justin Sun, who ate the banana as part of a performance piece. Ok I didn’t like the visual art or the performance art in this case. I think he ate it to prove his masculinity to others (who cares), and to show he had the money to waste. I say he could have done so much good with the money and shown how much more impact he could have on the world. But he’s a dick.

What really amazed me upon further research is that there were earlier editions of the same art. Earlier editions sold for between $120,000 and $150,000 when they debuted at Miami’s Art Basel in 2019. One of these editions was later donated to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. I haven’t been to the Guggenheim, but I am sure the previous versions of the banana art won’t be there when I visit. Or maybe they will be but in a different form (Transformational art?). A loose slimy pile of goop on the floor below where it previously hung. I’m really getting off the point of why I wrote this.

There was an education trend started in 2001 called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). I’m sure you have heard of it. STEM was implemented to build into the school curriculum the industries that were rapidly growing in the US. There was a push to formulate curriculum around those technologies to prepare students for the workforce. Unfortunately, it left a portion of the population behind by not taking into account their differences in cognitive learning.

In 2006 Georgette Yakman pushed to have Art (A) added to the STEM curriculum framework hoping to foster creativity & innovation. STEAM Was born. I think this was a very important initiative that is often overlooked and not supported. There are countless studies that show individuals who participate in the arts are often more creative thinkers. If they don’t necessarily have the answer, their ideas or suggestions give birth to the solution.

https://www.steamtruck.org/blog/steam-education-history-importance

You may say that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are what drive our society. It’s what makes America Great. Oh, I’m so sorry I used that term. STEM improves how we live, produces better products, makes us more efficient, or saves lives. It does, but I would argue that the addition of art (visual & performing) as an integral part of curriculum creates a better, more creative learner with better comprehension. Again, studies have shown that students who participate in the arts have better comprehension rates than those who do not. It helps students visualize, interpret, make connections and develop concepts.

Keep in mind art helps shape your vehicles, your tools, your furniture, your cooking utensils, your buildings and more. There really is a connection between STEM & ART. Take a moment to listen to this clip from Dead Poets Society (1989) – What will your verse be? Robin Williams passion as a literature teacher in a private boarding school. Comparing the purpose of science and art in our lives. I guess I am just a (proud) hopeless romantic.

So why in so many cases are the arts considered an elective to the base curriculum. Why shouldn’t it be a mandatory part of base requirements, every year for graduation. I question why State’s and the Federal Government do not put more effort into the arts. Access to art grants, art funding or funding to support art programs is second to STEM, which really makes it 5^th in line for support. Yet art is what often is enjoyed by everyone in their down time. Think about what art does. The feelings it evokes. Different for so many people on so many levels. I’ve written about music and the effect it has on my life.

Art has held its place in our family. My brothers played the piano & guitar. My oldest brother played guitar and toured with a well-known Elvis impersonator & cut a record with his own band. My youngest son is a musician (plays drums, base guitar, & producer). I also have the benefit of having visual arts in my life as well. Jen’s grandfather was an graphic artist & illustrator. Her uncle Don was a sculptor. My wife Jennifer is an illustrator & graphic artist. Unfortunately, I missed some of the musical genes but did find my creative side through architectural interior design. You can say I’m biased because it runs in our family. I say, I’m lucky to have had it as part of my life.

Recently (2024) Delaware closed its only art focused college, DCAD (Delaware College of Arts & Design). There were many factors that affected the closing of the school. Unfortunately, it seems like not much effort was made to support the school by the State. Not much fuss was made once it closed. That’s a shame seems to be the mentality. I think the State should put more effort into establishing a full-time arts college in DE.

I have an example. Our son Ryan was recently married. Imagine being invited to a wedding and having no music. Imagine everyone sitting around eating dinner, with no dinner music. Then dinner is over, and nothing. I guess you can dance, but the sound is in your head. No one else knows what you are hearing. The wedding is scheduled for several hours. I’ll put money down, people will be leaving within the hour.

I challenge everyone to take “The No Art Challenge” and let me know how your life feels. Think about this for a moment. Take art (visual and performing) out of your life for 30 days. Then evaluate what art means to you, your home, your town, your city, your state, this country. Imagine a month without the following:

The list goes on.

How does it feel? Quiet, empty, boring! I mean we can always watch sports.

The logo on all sports uniforms was designed by an artist. The intro to Monday Night Football & the E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles Fight Song, a musician.  I can go on & on.