Art, from the iambic pentameter of Shakespeare, to country music, to modern art, has a powerful ability to stimulate thought. Art can serve as a call to action or permission to contemplate. Art allows us to access parts of ourselves that may not normally see the light of day. Some people access it through novels, some through concerts, others through collections of poetry. It can be enjoyed in communities, or individually. Some people best appreciate art via its creation; they are the poets, dancers, actors and writers, who allow everyone else to see the world the way they do. Others learn most from appreciating the work of those artists.
However it is appreciated, art is a necessary part of human existence. Though consumer society makes it hard for artists to succeed financially, their work is valuable, albeit consistently undervalued. To thrive in the chaos that is life, art is necessary. Thankfully, we have a lot of artists here at the U to remind us of this.
On Sept. 23 near the UMFA cafe some of the U’s own artists shared their work and talents. One individual performed “Wake Me Up” by Avicii, accompanying himself on guitar. Others read poetry, some written by themselves and some written by their own favorite poets, including “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, a poem famous for inspiring Nelson Mandela. All provided brief glimpses into the minds of those contributing in ways nothing else ever could.
The event was hosted by The Canticle, a student-produced and student-composed journal of creative works. Open to submissions from all genres, The Canticle aims to provide visibility for students’ works. If you are one of the U’s artists, please show the rest of the student body what you can do by submitting to The Canticle so those who engage in art via appreciation can do so. We have a lot of creativity on this campus that can sometimes feel overshadowed by compulsory academia; now is the time to take a piece of your identity back. Don’t miss out on this chance at an audience; don’t make your potential audience miss out on everything you have to offer. Follow The Canticle on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about submission deadlines and start working on your creative pieces.