By Clare Shreve
Most families have a Sunday ritual, some go to church, others sleep in, some visit family, while others go to an art museum. For my little family of four, we chose the latter. "Chose" is a relative term actually, because neither my older brother nor I were ever very excited to see a black and white photography exhibit for a non-school related family field trip.
It was only recently that I was able to see what a gift it was that my parents were giving me.
Not only was it important to them that we spent time together as a family, it was also important that their children were exposed to the creative world of art. It was through these visits that I was able to slowly carve my way to the person I am today.
With my transition out of the teens and into my twenties this past month, I've spent a lot of time reflecting upon who I am and what I care about.
Much of what is a part of me is related to the arts. I am a dancer, a writer, a reader and an observer. I care about art, making my career in it and making it last.
Earlier last month pop-icon Quincy Jones gained a lot of press featuring his effort to create a Secretary of the Arts. This would be a cabinet position in the Obama administration that would be an active force in American culture preserving arts education as well as the general promotion and preservation of the arts.
Considering that music and art classes are being cut in many schools across the nation, it is important, now more than ever, to keep our cultural creativity afloat. Should the United States choose to appoint someone to the position, we would be in good company with Finland, France and Germany, who also have a similar position.
In order to promote this idea, two New York musicians started an online petition, which as of Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 3:48 p.m. had 226,819 signatures. Americans see the importance of art and are speaking up. Since signers are able to leave comments next to his or her digital signature, signers like Marlene Shelton, signer 226,812 said, "The arts reflect the soul of the nation."
Or "A free society is useless without art," said Mark Wolkoff signer 226,793.
It is important to guide the youth in America toward art, but it is equally important to preserve all that has previously been produced in America. Art is timeless and able to capture the present. Art makes statements that cannot otherwise be stated. Art can bring the cultures of the world together, not with a common language or a common government but through images that deserve to be shown and deserve to be preserved.
As signer number 145,753 I am proud to be so influenced by art and I believe it should remain a part of this country as the country and I move into the next phases of our lives.
