why teach art? why not?

am asking myself the question, so, spare yourself the trouble of figuring out.  bwahahaha!  just have the (he)art to listen.  these are but my thoughts, recently, as we (burikbutikan artists collective) are in our fourth session of teaching art this summer, here in baao, camarines sur.  (turugbasi arts camp @ la huerta de rosario).

art is really an essential part of my life.  i need it.  i enjoy it.

but countless individuals will not be exposed to it properly without being taught, or without parents believing it should be taught.

i find art in sports, in music, in painting, sculpting, writing and other disciplines.

it surrounds me in the natural world.  in a beautiful sunset, the song of a bird, my chicks at play.  

every moment, i experience art, i just have to be able to see, hear and feel it.

any child who is not taught art, will have no opportunity to explore it.  perhaps the child is a young mozart or bach, but if he is not exposed to any musical instrument, the child may never know he has the ability to learn to play as chopin or beethoven did.  the child who is not taught to read music or to play the scales may never answer the yearning inside.

for many children, a box of crayons is the only instrument of colour they will ever possess.  without being taught art, they will never find out if they have talent or even a desire to learn to paint.  

without being taught, they may desire to cover a canvas with a masterpiece, but will not be able.  they must be taught how to hold a brush, load the paint and put their vision down for the generations to come.

i have heard of several stories over the last years about children who could sit down on the piano stool before they could walk and play beautifully.  

or they have painted masterpieces to rival van gogh, monet or rembrandt and they have only just begun to shine.

the one reason these have succeeded where others have not is because they were given the opportunity.  their parents helped them achieve greatness through art.  

other children are being denied opportunities, not only because their parents lack the means, but also the personal knowledge of what talents and abilities there could be if nurtured.

why teach art?

because we all need art, we all need artists to fill our lives with beauty of mind and heart.  without teaching art, there will be many great artists who will never develop their natural talent.  and there will be many others who would enjoy art if taught art appreciation.

why teach art?  again, why not?

ps.  thank you for the colours!  ilysm!  ♥ ♥ ♥