Art, Community, and Me

“Art is not a privilege, it’s a right. It’s a fundamental part of being human.”
~Carmen Lomas Garza

Welcome, and Mabuhay! My name is Madeleine, and I am a twenty-something art fanatic. Whether it is my art or other art in the world I am generally interested in it. From music that has echoed on old church walls from centuries past, to the clacking of shoes or sticks to keep rhythm in vivacious movements, to multicolor smatterings on a canvas or ceramic works, art lights up the world and can help bring into view our emotions, thoughts, and criticisms.

In my life art has been a point of salvation and expression when it seemed that no one could or wanted to see or hear me. But it isn’t just art that does that. The reason that art making and engagement have become such major parts of my life is because of the community I found within it. Art and Community are two major characteristics of human evolution, and yet it is art and community that ends up being the things that people take for granted the most. This is especially true of the United States in a post-pandemic world. The most common connections today may honestly be our wifi connections. But what happened to interpersonal connections or relationships? What do we talk about with each other? Or do we try to ignore the people around us to the best of our abilities? And where does art fall in this conversation of connection and community?

That is what this blog is here to discuss. Through research, experience, practice, and dialogue perhaps together we can establish why art is important and we as a community thrive more with it available.

If you are interested in my work and experience please see the portfolio page on this website, or follow me on Instagram @art_of_the_mads.