|
Tuesday, 24 February 2009 |
By ANDREA POTEET
Staff Writer
BOTKINS — Before entering the halls of Botkins Local School, an area state representative says he has been more focused on House bills than brush strokes.
“When you’re not surrounded by art, you don’t think about it,” state Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney, said.
After spending time with six Botkins High School seniors, he said that may change.
Adams spent Monday visiting with six students in Botkins High School art teacher Dan Knepper’s classes. The students are to participate in the Ohio Citizen’s for the Arts Foundation’s Ohio Arts Day on April 1 at Riffe Center, in Columbus.
During an informal sit-down that lasted approximately an hour, Adams talked with Knepper and Botkins students Karrie Platfoot, Leah Schmerge, Meranda Schmerge, Krista Bornhorst, Chelsea Harshbarger, and Christie Fullenkamp. He answered questions on the legislative process and how programs are funded and listened to their testimonials on the importance of arts education in their lives.
Representatives from the Ohio Council for the Arts and the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education also took part in the session in an effort to prepare the students for Arts Day.
During Arts Day, the students are to meet with members of the Ohio General Assembly to discuss the importance of funding art programs.
“I’m more oriented at looking at how art benefits the business community, since that’s my background,” said Adams, who is owns Sidney-based Francis Furniture. “When you can notice connections to business, you can see the benefit of art programs.”
Several of the students told Adams they plan to pursue art-based careers, such as graphic design and interior design.
As the economy fluctuates, art is one of the few industries whose sales base remains unaffected, Knepper said.
People who can afford to commission paintings for thousands of dollars will likely not be affected much by the recession, he said, and those who are affected may still need less-expensive works for special occasions, like graduations and weddings.
“Once you have all the requirements in life that are necessities, the next necessity is art,” Knepper said.
The students also mentioned how art benefits them by allowing them an avenue for creative expression and an escape from outside pressures.
“I found it to be relaxing,” Platfoot said of her artwork. “It’s an expression. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, a painting is a whole other story. You can express whatever you want.”
“You can fix any painting however you want,” Fullenkamp said. “It can’t be wrong.”
Adams said he related to the student’s need to find a creative outlet.
“I’m not very artistically inclined,” Adams said. “I guess my outlet would be policy. I’ve always been passionate about politics.”
Students pointed out that in running a furniture store, Adams used many of the skills they used in their paintings, from working with different colors and textures to coordinating displays.
Ohio Council for the Arts Staff Assistant Erin Hoppe told Adams how art education has been proven to increase students’ aptitude for other academic subjects. It can also help to reach children who learn through a variety of learning styles, she said.
“It unlocks this other part for kids,” Hoppe said. “They are able to learn things through that traditional learning doesn’t address.”
The students also took Adams on a tour through the school, showing him samples of their work on display and answering his questions about how they created them.
Before leaving, Adams gave the students one last piece of advice.
“You have the talent,” Adams told the group. “Now use it.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 February 2009 )
|
