Healing By Art

“We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.”

— Ursula Le Guin

Art, since its conception, has been an intricate form of both expression and release; benefitted by both artist and admirers alike. Art also takes on many forms; Creating customized methods of expression and release for every individual person across the world. And though each form is customized, making it so individually unique, art brings community and healing to those who embrace it -Forms two vital pieces of life that everyone needs.

Art Has Many Expressions

When we hear the word art, our brains are often flooded with thoughts of famous paintings or drawings such as the Mona Lisa, The Sistine Chapel, or even the viral TikTok artist painter out of Dakar, Senegal, Bou Bou, who creates realistic paintings of people upside down while they are standing next to him. We may even think of art in its written form of books and poetry, driving us to think about world renowned works such as “And Still I Rise”, “Moby Dick”, “The Raven”, or “The Iliad”- all of which are directly correlated to an oral form of art called storytelling. However there are many many forms of art.

Most of the gifts we view as a talent are, in fact, an art form. From singing, to dancing, to playing sports, to speaking languages, to hair making, to cooking, to inspiring others; it is all art! No matter if it is completed or performed for an audience of one million or none, the skill, precision, and expression of an art form brings out the light in every person. The unique skills and talents that every individual possesses can either be invested in or ignored - and that can be a contributing factor to their lack of wellbeing. 

Art Heals 

The effects of art as a collaborative healing method has shown substantial positive results. So much so that many healthcare organizations across the nation have implemented care plans that include patients, no matter what their “ailment”, to take part in some sort of artistic activity. It has been found that including art in care plans leads to shorter hospital stays, increased self-esteem, reductions in stress and depression, all while improving quality of life (Americans for the Arts, 2015). Dancing is one of those key art forms that produces these positive results. 

Research conducted on Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) concluded that dance therapy improved affect-related psychological conditions by decreasing anxiety and depression levels, and increased quality of life and cognitive skills. It was also concluded that dance consistently improved motor skills. Any form of art, whether verbal, non verbal, performative, or communicable (such as tending to and managing a community garden), healing prevails (Phillips, 2022). 

Art in Black and Brown Communities

For centuries the different forms of artistry have been both made excellent and even created by people in the Black and Brown community. Joshua Johnson, an 18th century painter, is attributed as the earliest known professional African American artist, though we are aware that art was being produced by people of color far before Johnson's title claim. Since then, there have been countless Black and Brown artists throughout the nation's history.  Augusta Savage, Dorothy Dandredge, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Elizabeth  Catlett,  Rita Moreno, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni, and so many many more creatives have added to the world with their talents. Even when others sought to steal away talent, or the profit from others talent, Black and Brown people across the country set out on their own path, becoming way makers for generations to come. 

For much of the Black community, singing has been a method of release, comradery, information, and even homage. From the low bass and baritone pace makers to alto and soprano melodic lyrics, the voices of our ancestors sing to our souls as we endure our life challenges and celebrate our life’s victories. 

In taking the time to read the stories of artists in history, you will find that many of them found doing their art brought them grounding, peace, and clarity. They would also endure challenging times in their lives that would result in pieces of work that became legendary. Take singer-songwriting legend Ray Charles as an example. Experiencing the death of his younger brother at age four, losing his eyesight to juvenile glaucoma by age seven, and then enduring life challenges resulting in drug abuse and depression, Charles was no stranger to life hardships.  However, Ray managed to produce art in his form (music) that aided him in expressing his thoughts, pain, and emotions while pushing through his own healing journey. And as he expressed his healing, he healed and brought together others in the nation and helped heal around the world. 

Today, many Black and Brown people still take the lead in creating new musical and dance art forms across the world - continuing to revolutionize art and the world around it. 

Artist Inequities Within the US

Unfortunately, though the Black and Brown community produces profound art, there is inequity in the resources and opportunities available to them.The lack of resources and opportunities exist due to multiple avenues of inequities. To begin, the economic structure of the country favors white people, meaning, there are more people of color at an economic disadvantage than white people in the nation. As a matter of fact, on average, white families have about $184,000 in family wealth while Black and Latino families only had $23,000 and $38,000 respectively (Kent & Ricketts, 2021). This economic gap alone creates a host of challenges when it comes to artistry. For someone who would like to make a living off their art form, it places a financial limitation on what someone can do.

Believe it or not, education actually plays a part as well. Once in school, children have exposure to more art forms through both their curriculum and peer interactions. They might learn about self defense classes or cheerleading, band, or even dance. A child may take a liking to robotics or coding. Unfortunately, many times, kids may come from disadvantaged backgrounds and due to the wealth discrepancies, little Brown and Black children may be limited on not only their advancement in their desired art form but in their participation as well. When situations like this occur, Black and Brown people, especially children, can become discouraged and sometimes find themselves losing passion for their art form due to lack of accessibility. While one would like to believe that the US government would encourage well-being within schools through art, that has not been the case. 

More often than not, when issues arrive within the educational setting that can be resolved with money, arts and humanities are among the first to be sacrificed, despite its positive outcomes for students and the general population. And yet again, Black and Brown people take the largest hit. Coupled with the wealth disadvantage,  defunding art programs increases the likelihood of Black and Brown students’ having disciplinary issues and contributes to increased drop out rates, all while increasing the income gap in the long term (Therieau, 2021). These are just a few factors that are influenced by art. There are plenty more reasons to implement art into not only the lives of students but everyone in the world. However, with research, it is clear to see that art education and participation is vital in developing positively involved and healed people in society. 

Encouraging the Use of Art in Our Daily Lives and In Healing 

There are so many ways for people to go about including some form of art into their daily routine and no matter someone’s age or race, they should be free to explore and embrace their own art form. Not only should the opportunity be provided for exploration but support in discovering their art and embracing it. 

Art should be woven within the fabric of familial and educational infrastructure. Art provides explanation when there are no words; Growth when we feel stagnation; release when all we know is sorrow. I encourage you, seek your art form and embrace it. Make it a habit that you practice with joy and intentionality. You too are an artist - never stop creating and be healed.