From Canvas to Cause: Young Artists Embrace Their Right to Express

A mixed media piece on world hunger by Hayden Lawrence

Selah Greer, Member of The Spark

"If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." -George Washington

From the dawn of this nation's history, the freedom to express individual beliefs has been a fundamental right of the American people. George Washington, a founding father, understood that tyranny is inevitable without the freedom to express one's opinion.

Throughout the years, American citizens have used this freedom to burn American flags, wear armbands to school, and share their dreams on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In the halls of Watauga, it doesn't necessarily take a march on Washington to make a difference. Student artwork is drawing attention to issues important to the artists, through every brush stroke and stanza.

Mixed media artist Hayden Lawrence, sophomore, has made pieces about everything from world hunger to mental health issues.

 "Art is a way of expressing things you want to say or actions you want to make but something is blocking you from doing it," said Lawrence. "Art helps you be able to get those things out."

Visual art is only one of the many forms artists use to bring attention to issues important to them. Olive Mager, freshman, acknowledges the unique opportunity poetry provides to express things that are hard to voice aloud.

"Art is very important in my expression because in my poems I can say things I can't say in real life without ridicule and people expressing their own opinions," said Mager. "Everybody's opinion is valid, but in some cases, I struggle to express a thought without someone cutting me off to contradict me with their own opinion."

Dacia Trethewey is an AP and standard art teacher, as well as the advisor for the National Art Honor Society. Trethewey's position as an art teacher presents a unique opportunity to encourage young artists to incorporate their voices into their projects, something that she has noticed excites and engages her students. 

"Most lessons in our art classes have goals we are all striving for, but I always encourage students to work their own ideas into it," said Trethewey.  "They are much more invested in the project when they tap into something more personal."

Projecting personal struggles and beliefs into art can change engagement, but can art really make a difference in the lives of others? Hayden Lawrence believes that it can.

"I do believe people can make a difference through art whether it is painting, drawing, singing, or dancing," said Lawrence. "All are ways to express your feelings, and when people see these pieces of art, people realize they aren't alone. They realize they aren't the only ones who are going through something. And that feeling of knowing you are not alone helps make a difference."

Trethewey agrees that art can be used to make a statement, but with "care and responsibility."

Throughout her years of teaching and studying art, Trethewey has seen many artists who have used their works to take a stand. Banksy is just one example of an artist who has portrayed issues like domestic violence in his street art to inspire awareness in the community.

"There are many artists of the past and contemporary artists today who have dedicated their life to making a statement through their artwork," said Trethewey. "Artwork can be used to make a powerful statement."