Art for art's sake... or art for OUR sake?
25 Ways Art Impacts Our Community
1. ART DEFINES PHYSICAL SPACE 2. ART REFLECTS COMMUNITY VALUES 3. ART CAN START A DIALOGUE 4. ART BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER 5. ART CREATES A SENSE OF BELONGING
6. ART ACTIVITIES HELP IMPROVE SOCIAL WELL-BEING 7. ART HELPS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION 8. ART REVEALS TRUTH 9. ART DRIVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 10. ART PORTRAYS A COMMUNITY
11. ART CREATES A SENSE OF PRIDE 12. ART EXPOSES COMMUNITY CONFLICT 13. ART INCREASES BUSINESS 14. ART DOCUMENTS COMMUNITY HISTORY 15. ART HELPS US UNDERSTAND OTHERS POINT OF VIEW
16. ART ENCOURAGES EXPRESSION 17. ART BRINGS IN TOURISM 18. ART PROMOTES DIVERSITY OF CULTURE 19. ART CAN HELP TO BUILD PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS 20. ART TELLS THE STORY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS
21. ART IS INSPIRED BY COMMUNITY AND REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY BACK 22. ART ENCOURAGES ENGAGEMENT IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITY 23. ART GIVES COMMUNITY SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH OTHERS 24. ART EDUCATES AND INFORMS US ON ISSUES 25. ART ENTERTAINS AND BRING JOY TO COMMUNITY
East Side Gallery, Berlin
Germany's Berlin Wall, torn down by the people in September 1989, was a target for Berliners' rage against the communist machine; the so-called East Side Gallery, the longest extant stretch of the wall, has been covered with more than 100 murals and graffiti. Although vandalism and the elements have destroyed much of the gallery's power, it's still a powerful reminder of the former regime of iron, with artworks ranging from Dalíesque freak shows to Pink Floydian bricks. Happily, a restoration project is under way.
Resources:
