Written by Marc Benaca (ThaHaitian)

   No matter where you travel in the world, you are destined to come across a wall of graffiti, a beautiful mural, an intriguing sculpture or unique architecture. Art is all around us, Yet some of us take it for granted. We look down at the college students with the major art degree. To be fair, it's kinda dumb to spend tens of thousands on an art degree… But that's a topic for another day. 

   However, the point is that whenever our elected officials need to readjust the town budget, Art programs are often the first to be on the chopping block. But do we ever think about our world without Art? What would society look like? Here are Five reasons Why Art is so Important in our Society. 

HELPS WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 

   Growing up in a very strict household, I wasn't always able to express myself. Haitian parents are often hard on their children. Therefore, oftentimes it was easier to keep to myself rather than attracting my mom's unwanted attention. Yet, I needed to express myself somehow. That's where Art played a major role. 

   I used painting and sketching as an outlet for my emotions. Art has helped me manage my depression and be less anxious. As my skill developed, I then became more confident and more outgoing. 

   It is also the case for a lot of kids who need a productive way to express themselves. Art and crafts help teens to stay out of trouble. Being complimented on your creativity reinforces positive feedback and often boosts one's self esteem. Besides, there is something very nostalgic about getting lost while drawing. 

HISTORICAL RECORDS 

   Some may argue that a lot of our earliest recorded history was Cave painting. Even though these cave dwellers drew like toddlers, thanks to their murals, we have a greater understanding of life during the Paleolithic era. 

   From classical Greek and Romans to the Renaissance, Artists of each era were able to visually depict their timeline far more effectively than the written words. Which was vital, as one may not always find the word to describe a phenomenal. Therefore, a sketch or a drawing may be best.

INSPIRE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 

   Every man-made structure started with imagination. Then someone was able to take that image from the mind and onto a piece of paper. The funny thing is that the images from your mind were consciously or unconsciously inspired by the creation of others. 

   As an artist, I draw inspiration from everywhere. Nature, books, social media, friends, family and definitely from other artists. It's often centuries of Artistic development compounded into a wealth of knowledge that we are now benefiting in the present. But we're not just the beneficiaries; we also add our own innovation. 

We went from Cave painting to the 16 chapel and now graphic design and AI Art. I now have the ability to transform my drawing and painting into designs onto merchandise on my blog store. Our progress is exciting and scary at the same time. 

CREATING COMMUNITY BOND 

   Some of the closest friends that I have today are from an art program that I was a part of as a teenager. We organized Sales events, and Art exhibitions. We've painted murals, and created Art with recycled materials. 

    All of these activities help the youth stay out of trouble, and impact the neighborhood in a positive way. These interactions not only help develop artistic skills, but also social skills that can be used later on in Life. 

CULTURAL IDENTITY 

    Last but not least, Art is vital when it comes to one's Ethnic and Cultural identity. When you think of Anime, Japan also comes to mind. You think of Graffiti, then you visualize Hip-hop culture. The same goes for other ethnic groups such as the Caribbean, Latin America, Native American and so on. 

   Having an Artistic style that helps shape a Culture's identity is a beautiful thing. It gives pride to those belonging to that Culture, or Ethnic group. In the era of uniformity and forced conformity, being Artistically unique is a great thing. 

CONCLUSION 

   The importance of Art in our Society should never be taken for granted. Nor its Impact in our Culture should be undermined. It helps shape reality, and public perception. Great Art is able to speak to one's subconscious and emotions in ways other mediums cannot. 

   Growing up, Art was essential to my well being. I became more observant, and was able to pick up on details overlooked by others. The Love of Art gave me the incentive to travel  across the country and abroad and be amazed by so many beautiful murals and Art galleries. 

   Art brings vibrancy in a doll world of conformity. It adds a dose of personality, and screams out a Statement; “We were Here.” Art is not just a part of Life, Art is Life; That HubLife. I guess the question is: Does Art Imitate Life? Or Does Life Imitate Art?

   I'm your Charming, Sexy Host, ThaHaitian. Thank you for tuning in. I look forward to your thoughts below in the comments. I appreciate you for sharing, liking, and Subscribing to my socials. 

Thank you.