What are the Expressive Arts?
Like many people, you may be wondering, what are the Expressive Arts? It’s a rich and diverse spectrum that includes art, dance, drama, film (Digital Media), music, and writing. These forms of expression, each unique, have a significant presence in 4-H, and my role as the 4-H Expressive Arts specialist is to assist county educators, 4-H members, and volunteers in creating more opportunities in the Expressive Arts. There are numerous State arts activities just around the corner. Read to the end of the article to learn more about how to participate this fall.
Art has been a critical human experience for thousands of years. Humans have created art to preserve cultural traditions and express gratitude, religious ideas, and feelings. Today, we see art everywhere, from the media we consume to the public art in our communities and the soundscapes that fill our lives. Creating art is important because it engages several parts of our brains and fosters communal experiences. Art doesn’t have to be shared, but when it is, it is a powerful way to communicate and connect with others.
4-H and The Expressive Arts
The arts in 4-H have long been one of the largest project areas. While 4-H roots may be grounded in agriculture and food science, the arts are essential to the 4-H Story. Consider the number of paintings, photos, drawings, and creative, original written content that is part of your local county fair. You also may have a music and drama festival that highlights the performance skills of 4-Hers.
One of the most exciting elements of art is its highly individual and constantly changing nature. Like so many things in our world, art reflects how we live. As you think about your 4-H activities, consider making one of the creative arts central to your 4-H experience. Writing in a daily journal may be one way to start your “Expressive Arts” journey. You could also take recent photos of your personal experiences and look for ones that tell a story, have interesting composition, or speak to you on an emotional level.
“I’m not Artistic!”
Oh, but you are! We often get placed into either the category of “artistic” or “non-artistic,” and simplistically, this is usually decided based on our ability to draw and/or paint. Art is a personal perspective that ranges from our love and understanding of a musical style to how we want our personal space to “look.” “Aesthetics” relates to or dealing with the beautiful,” according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. Each of us has a deep understanding of what we find beautiful, and therefore, we are all artistic. The ability to create art needs nurturing and practice, so to excel in our skill level, we must commit to begin. So, whether music, dance, theater, visual arts, digital media, or writing, the best way to change your thinking on whether you are an artist is to choose your medium and begin to create. Even 20 minutes of focused practice daily can transform your ability to think and act creatively. And if that isn’t enough to get you to give it a try, new research conducted by Magsamen and Ross is exploring the health benefits of regular participation in the arts.
Wisconsin State Arts Teams
Each year, dozens of older youth from around the state participate in statewide arts activities in drama, visual arts, music, and written communication. This year, we will expand our opportunities by offering the communications and vocal music teams. We also plan to enhance the youth experience by placing all teams under the Arts Ambassador umbrella. This will allow for joint planning, connections between teams, leadership development, and an apparatus for State Arts Teams to support and participate in statewide events throughout the year. Stephanie Kempe leads the 4-H Visual Arts team, and Allison Olson leads the 4-H State Drama Company. We are currently looking for leaders for the communications and music teams. Please contact me directly if you or someone you know would like to support the arts at a state level.
Arts Leadership Team Members Needed
We seek high school-aged counselors to support 4-H Arts Camp on October 4-6 at Upham Woods in the Wisconsin Dells. Arts Camp is a program for 4-Her’s in grades 6-8, where they can explore the Expressive Arts in an overnight camp setting. Art exploration, team building, and leadership skills are integrated into the camp weekend. A counselor training and camp planning weekend is scheduled for September 7 & 8. Arts camp counselors should be interested in developing their leadership and teaching skills. Please complete the application by August 19th. We will also be looking for campers to participate in our arts-based weekend of fun! Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14oAI2qvBVmKtlwTnwtJXR9KI_thaon72fG8O0gFPIPM/prefill
The 4-H Arts Express
Stay tuned for further information regarding the arts both in your county and at the State level. There will be updates on activities, teaching videos, and resources.
Contact Jay Johnson, 4-H Expressive Arts Specialist, for any information on the above at jay.johnson2@wisc.edu
