Keep Making Art
Humans have been making art since before recorded history. It’s in our nature. Our methods and mediums have changed, but what we make art about hasn’t changed much: things we see, things we dream, things we feel. And right now, a lot of people are feeling a lot of things. Making art can feel trivial when there are so many disastrous events happening all around us. But I think that trying times are when art becomes especially important. Here are some tips to help you keep creating:
Prioritize rest and reflection. Art is an outlet, and can help us process our emotions and maintain a healthy mental balance. This in turn will help replenish your creative energy.
Make art just for you. Make yourself happy. Nobody else has to see it.
Share others’ artwork. Community building is key right now. On the other hand…
Limit social media activity. It’s too easy to get bogged down in everything that’s happening world-wide when all of the information is right there.
Make it part of your routine. Human brains love routine, and it doesn’t take long for habits to form when we do tasks regularly. Even starting small is better than not starting.
If you want to take your art further, consider making art specifically for protests. Protest imagery is deeply embedded in our culture - raised fists, red flags, a water melon slice - and making something striking can add a lot to any peaceful protest. Songs and poetry have the unique ability to stay in people’s memories much longer than just a speech, so lending your lyrical skills to a chant or slogan can go a long way. Even putting a photo or video online and sharing it with the world can quickly get your message across to hundreds of people.
As psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi explains, "Creativity has always been essential to our survival as a species. From the earliest days when our ancestors were trying to figure out how to make fire, creativity has helped us overcome challenges and adapt to new situations." Creativity can be found in unexpected places, so keep your mind open to the possibilities around you as you navigate your day-to-day life. Reach out to Indivisible Cortland to learn more about their upcoming “Art as Resistance” maker space (indivisiblecortlandcounty@gmail.com) on March 14th, or consider coming to Q-mmunity W.I.P night at The Center February 12th.