Imagine a world without art. In this world, heavy silence falls in the place of music, and walls are left bare, naked without the paintings to gift them with life. A world where shelves and stages lack the stories that transport us to otherworldly places, or where we are unable to step outside of ourselves and become new people. In this world, we remain trapped within ourselves, limited only to our own experiences and unable to understand that of others. Imagine how dreadfully boring we would be without art. People lacking in the unique or special qualities that give them character, or lonely people who are incapable of experiencing the beauty of life. Above all, we would be people who lack connection.

Art acts as a primary source for human connection and the development of empathy. All people are born with the ability to empathize, yet with age, we become selective about who we choose to empathize with. As this process takes place gaps begin to grow, created by differing perspectives and emotional barriers, until we are left isolated. Art acts as the bridge that spans this gap, providing the link that allows us to understand each other and explore our passion for the arts together.

Human connection is important, now more than ever. In the modern world, our senses are bombarded with an overflow of constant data until we are overwhelmed. Through this we have become quick to make judgments, and are apathetic to those who receive our criticism. This has only been furthered by the COVID 19 pandemic, in which we have been not only emotionally isolated, but physically distanced from the contact of others. According to the neuroscientist, Terry Wu, art has the capability to slow and rationalize our thinking process, opening our minds to that of others.

During my time at the Summer Arts Academy, I chose to explore the relationship between art and human connection. For this, I turned to the young artists of the Summer Arts Academy, and inquired about their artistic backgrounds, and how they felt concerning the arts as a cultivator of empathy. Through the combined experiences of these artists, I was able to discover that art is an exceptionally emotionally form of communication that allows for mutual understanding on a deeper level, which develops a strong empathetic connection.