Washing the Dust off our Souls
The Healing Power of Art
Pablo Picasso said, “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” Arts centers serve as vital community spaces that are more than just venues; they are integral to a city's cultural landscape, helping to increase civic engagement, cultural representation and economic empowerment. In a world that’s increasingly desensitized to both horrors and beauty, art carves space for emotions—rage, love and all the ones in between—in a way other mediums simply can’t.
In 1965 President Johnson signed a bill into law known as the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act declaring that "the arts and the humanities belong to all the people of the United States" and that support for these pursuits was an "appropriate matter of concern to the Federal Government."
Black people have always understood the power of art as a strategic tool in their fight for freedom. In 1965, shortly after the assassination of Malcom X, poet, writer, and artist Amiri Baraka opened the Black Arts Repertory Theater/School (BARTS) in Harlem, seen by many as the start of the Black Arts Movement. It included a literary movement that was overtly political and called on Black, Latino, and Asian American artists to write about their own cultures and histories, challenging the status quo of writing and activism.
“Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change – it can not only move us, it makes us move.” Ossie Davis
Many female artists gained recognition as part of the movement. Authors such as Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, Audre Lorde, June Jordan, and Nikki Giovanni were all important and influential artists in this celebration of identity, resilience, and community. By creating art that reflected their lives and experiences, Black artists challenged societal norms and inspired change. Their legacy reminds us of the power of creativity to unite, empower, and transform.
Music played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s as well. Artists like Nina Simone and Sam Cooke used their voices to inspire change and rally support for the movement. Songs like “Mississippi Goddam” and “A Change Is Gonna Come” became anthems of the era, providing solace and encouragement to those fighting for civil rights.
Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson was the first African American and Mexican American woman to serve as the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Jackson was confirmed as chair in December 2021 as the NEA’s 13th chair. With a background in community development, Jackson has worked on the connection of the arts, culture and design as critical elements of healthy communities.
The NEA’s work of grantmaking supports diverse communities all over the country. The need for arts and creativity are more important now than ever. In addition to serving as an economic engine in many communities, creative arts are core to what it takes to heal our nation and ourselves. The NEA works to provide hope and well-being in communities.
I know the power of art and the importance of the role it has played in my life. It’s no accident that among my many friends many of them are involved in the creative arts field. I was thrilled to sit down with one of them to discuss it, Dr Randy Westbrook, Executive Director of The Richmond Area Arts Center in Kentucky. He knows the power of art and its ability to heal. He said, “The Arts should be accessible to everyone everywhere.”
He is soon to be the longest serving Executive Director in the Center’s history and had the arduous task of navigating the Center’s operation and programming during the pandemic. I taught a virtual Soapmaking Class for the Arts Center during the pandemic.
He shares some advice for others to bring the arts to their community. “To make things happen in your community, find talent and organizations and foster collaborations. Know your community and what is realistic and be persistent.” It’s long-term incremental work that can bring people and communities together like their recent event and collaboration with the Madison County NAACP & The Richmond Arts Council for: “An Evening of Togetherness”
Listen, Follow, Share, and make things happen!