Visual Arts

Importance of the Visual Arts

Art is Universal. It is and should available for everyone no matter what age, culture, status or religion. The visual arts are there to enjoyed, questioned, interpreted and most importantly created. When thinking of the visual arts the things that most often come to mind are painting, drawing and sculpture. However there are many other aspects in which this subject covers such as architecture, printmaking, design, photography, ceramics and even filmmaking. Within each of these subjects are opportunities for children to learn and gain knowledge about a variety of aspects, which is why the visual arts are so important.

Sense

According to Baker (1990) when a child first contacts the world they experience it through their sense of sight, sound, smell and touch; therefore it is highly important that activities which enhance the sense be taken seriously and given the utmost attention. By looking and experiencing visual arts it prompts children to question, voice their interpretations, create inferences and suggest theories in relation to the art that they are viewing (Christensen & Kirkland, 2009). Additionally, Baker (1990) states that children such as early childhood aged children, have a desire for images which they can ponder over; for complex and rich compositions of shapes, forms, colours, light and texture; and knowledge about how things When young children first begin to create and construct images and objects the meaning of these creations are often very concrete (Baker, 1990). By giving children opportunities to develop their creativity and experiment with their sense they can learn that art can be a way to express thought, feelings and ideas.

History and Culture

Viewing and discussing art pieces allows children to learn how other people think, the different thoughts that they have and how people express these thoughts and ideas (Christensen & Kirkland, 2009). The visual arts and the experiences that come with it support children in their formation and processes of their culture (Baker, 1990). Through art children’s understanding and emotions of certain events can be enriched which according to Christensen & Kirkland (2009) are significant to historical understanding. Furthermore, when there is a story about the artwork often children find it more enjoyable. Looking at the different styles and eras of art such as the Renaissance, Impressionism, Cubism and Modern Arts just exploring the artworks from these periods can give children an insight of the time and place in which these were created and what people’s ideas were during these periods.

Freedom

Art is something that can be created and for this reasons children should have the freedom to be creative and to express as many ideas, feelings and thoughts as they wish. Along with this, children have the freedom to view the visual arts through their own personal lenses and contexts (Christensen & Kirkland, 2009). Furthermore, the visual arts allow for openness and the use of the many qualities that children possesses rather than being restricted by teacher led activities or programmes which can have limitations.