Choose Art
Whether or not you’re a senior with college supplements to write or a junior with 40 pages of Constructing America homework, it’s easy to deem art class as a waste of time that would otherwise allow you to complete additional work. The importance of having time carved out during the academic day to devote yourself to a project based solely on effort is lost to the stress of a test or the ability to opt out. At RCS, once you hit senior year, art is no longer a required course. As a result some seniors do not think twice about the decision to take the extra free in their schedule instead of trekking to Lindenbaum once a day. However, what they may not consider is what they are missing out on. According to junior Charlie Epstein, if not for the art course or play-writing elective she takes, it is difficult for her to find time outside of school to pursue a creative passion or simply practice a skill she wishes to improve upon. Having an art class built into your schedule also allows you time to step away from outside stress and engage parts of your brain that are otherwise suppressed during the academic day. Decompressing creatively between periods is also known to help relieve anxiety, boost productivity, and enable the healthy release of emotions through art.
Senior Maddy Wisse, who takes Open Studio, now enjoys a year-round visual arts class with art teacher Ms. Reznikov instead of fighting for a seat in the library. She explains that her reasoning for taking this optional class is because she believes that, “having an outlet for my creativity has such a big impact on my mental health. Of course, if I had an extra free period, I could get work done, but the practice of creating something and having the space carved into most days to make art is critical.” Wisse speaks passionately to two perspectives on the Arts at Riverdale. She acknowledges that art class takes up time, but she spends this time valuably and the class allows her to be more present for the rest of her academic day: “It really is a stress reliever. making something special to you that you really care about. Even if I could be getting an extra supplement done, what I do in art class helps me with the entire rest of my day because it grounds me and offers a break from all the other academic stuff going on.” Wisse adds that she “channels [her] emotions into my art.” Not only is art beneficial to her mental health and mindset at school, but her work is reflective of her feelings and allows her to express that in a productive way.
Junior and aspiring film director, Charlie Epstein, explores her passion for filmmaking with a film writing elective as well as being the leader of the Film Club. Epstein finds her artistic voice when she “tells stories through the screen.” When asked to describe the atmosphere in her elective, she called it her “place to have a sense of calm.” Similar to Wisse, Epstein chooses to take this class instead of an extra free in her schedule because she finds it to be beneficial and academically stimulating. She is currently working on a short film, which she enjoys revisiting as a way to break up her more demanding days. “I’ll have a really stressful CA test, and right after I can go to my creative outlet to help relieve my anxiety.” As proven by Wisse and Epstein, the value an art class holds is far greater than the painting or film you walk away with at the end of the semester; the true magic is in the process. There is a sense of mental clarity as you immerse yourself in creativity, allowing art to become an escape from the pressures of everyday life.
The benefits of the arts are also witnessed firsthand by art teacher Betsy Fields. She describes a noticeable energy shift in the classroom from the beginning to the end, saying the room ends with a “calmer, more peaceful energy.” Ms. Fields attributes the tranquility as a result of the deep engagement of students in the artistic process: where students enter a “complete immersion” into their work. Throughout the school day, Ms. Fields watches students enter her studio stressed or tired, often arriving straight from a test and in urgent need of decompression. Making art allows the students to focus these emotions into active creativity. Ms. Fields explains that during her classes, “the grounding of the present moment becomes central.”
It is important to remember that our non-academic classes can be just as important as a history or math class. The privilege to tap into your artistic self in a day dominated by demanding courses and long periods of screen time is a huge advantage. So next time the option is presented to opt in or out, choose art.
