At Risk: Stories of Hope

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” — Albert Einstein

Art is so special because it reveals the extraordinary vision that young humans have.  It teaches the stale adult mind that new possibilities are infinite in the mind if we are given an opportunity to exercise this part of the mind.

Art is the vitamin that energizes our nation’s next inventors, entrepreneurs, and scientists.  Without the arts, we tend to rehash what has already been done.

NCLB tends to lead Americans to think of the arts as a frill that can be sacrificed so that more time can be spent on the basics.  America will get just that, a very basic thinking population that can read, write, and do some calculations.  So can India, China, and Japan, but they take it to a new height by infusing some cultural aesthetics into the mix when they create.

I love how the Olympics showcased a calligrapher and reported how he used a variation of a character to design the new logo.  They used performing artists to dazzle the world in the opening ceremony.

I came from a city that eventually fell as a world power in the automotive industry.  Why?  The Japanese study fine art as part of the auto design curriculum.  I bought the book at THE auto design school in Detroit.  It is bilingual and has pictures of Japanese students with sculptures of fine art.  Their cars looks fast and stylish just sitting there.