✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Introduction / Why ?

Many argue that art is utterly useless and a waste of time and those who create art struggle with families and friends disapproving of the concept of being an artist. Renowned Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso, is widely quoted as stating that “Every child has an artist inside.” This is certainly true, however, our capitalistic dominated culture and political system have steered us away from any form of creative expression and rather into what society deems as high impact, successful jobs. For my project, I want to discuss how art can facilitate the ability to have feelings during grief, challenge growth on the verge of giving up, introduce critical information that one cannot find elsewhere, and help us find ourselves. Art tells us that we are not alone in any experience. More specifically, I will also provide strong evidence on how art can benefit mental health either through being the creator or the beholder of the art. I will share the importance of immersing ourselves in works by marginalized artists that can reflect new perspectives that we may not be familiar with that can transform conversations, encouraging new ways to think, engage, feel, and live.