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In his masterpiece, "Artist in His Studio", Pablo Picasso gives the face of the painter a third eye.   What appears to be a strange distortion to the average observer may actually be a statement from Picasso about the study of art and the nature of the artist.  A person who is taught to tap into his or her creative ability becomes fundamentally different from one who is never exposed to the study of art.  He or she develops a keener sense of perceiving the world. The student of art develops a third eye which enables him to see more clearly, more thoroughly than others. 

There's no reason why non-artists (the future mechanic, banker, nurse or salesperson) shouldn't have the opportunity to learn to see just as well.  In the field of education this concept is known as visual literacy and in many respects, it is just as important as being able to read and write.  Those who have it are more sensitive to the environment and to the people around them.  They can use their minds creatively, not only in an artistic sense, but also in the sciences as well as practical aspects of life.  This benefit of art education makes it so very relevant and important for our children and our nation.  Art class has cognitive and psychological significance to the developing individual

Art, historically, has not been considered one of the basics of American education.  Yet, before man developed written languages, he painted pictures on the walls of caves.  What we know of ancient societies today, we know because of what they communicated to us through those pictures.  As languages developed and educated men were expected to master them, pictorial representation became less important.  It was not until the Renaissance that art was acknowledged as part of the more traditional academic pursuits.  The status of the artist was elevated to that of a scholar and learned men also became men of aesthetic appreciation.

To deny art as an academic endeavor was and still is to deny the scientific genius of Leonardo da Vinci and contributions by other artists such as Filippo Brunelleschi who discovered the laws of mathematical perspective.  Science and art went hand in hand during the Renaissance, reflecting a society of order, harmony and logic.  Perhaps here we can find meaning for today's world as well. Our society as a whole depends less upon the rare genius than upon the creative mind and sensitivity of the average citizen.

Only through increased sensitivity can we come to grips with ourselves, our society and our environment.  The power of creative vision is the answer and education must strive to develop it in our youth by encouraging student participation in the creative process.

Nineteenth century educator John Dewey considered aesthetics to be one of the highest, if not THE highest experience.  According to Dewey, the arts provided opportunity to utilize the whole person, body, mind and spirit, simultaneously in one cooperative effort.  Artistic expression provides the individual with the fullest measure of experience.

Excerpt from "The Third Eye"   by Alice Dobbin