Making Art is the Default

Art can feel rare and elusive sometimes – especially for artists, who pour all of their energy into their creation.

But I really think that making art is the default. And I was reminded that most forcefully tonight as I watched a dozen performers create a truly remarkable 2 1/2-hour theatrical presentation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It was art in every sense, and their performances will stay with me.

And I do think this is the default. Given the opportunity and the tools, we all try to make art, particularly children, who aren’t given to self-judgement. (Most every child sings, draws, dances for the sheer joy.)

Making art is the default, and maybe the challenge for arts educators is to just get out of the way and create the circumstances that will let our students make the art they are primed to make.