The Brain on Art Series
Through the arts we experience the brain health benefits of social connection, improved cognitive abilities and further development of healthy and vibrant minds.
The science of “neuroaesthetics” teaches us that how we respond to aesthetic and artistic experiences can enhance and maintain our brain health as well as our physical well being.
Art is good for both our physical and mental health.
Over the next few months, Kawartha Art Gallery’s Brain on Art Series will be featuring the contributions of some of the youth that have worked for the Gallery and share their thoughts on the value of the Arts.
The Brain on Art Series: Introducing Annie Cheng and Rose Anderson-Duvall
Annie Cheng and Rose Anderson-Duvall have both been with the Kawartha Art Gallery since 2017 during high school and throughout university! Annie and Rose have both led kids summer art camps and Annie is the founder of Crazy Creative. Crazy Creative is a weekend Model Magic programming session for kids and any proceeds from the program are donated to a local non-profit. Annie has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Chemistry and she will soon be starting a Masters in Sustainability Management. Rose is entering her final year of an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biopharmaceutical Science at the University of Ottawa. Her focus is in virology and immunology, but when she is not in the lab, she enjoys painting, reading, fibre arts, and geocaching!
Annie and Rose first became involved with the Gallery when they joined an after-school student film project program that the Gallery offered area high school students. The film project is called Saving Victoria County and can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcacFiDHxSI
In 2021 Annie and Rose created a social media video for the Gallery’s Jump in and Express Yourself Exhibit, an online exhibition inviting area youth to express their concerns through art about the safety and well-being of their community:
https://www.facebook.com/kawarthaartgallery/videos/381454757006716/
Annie and Rose’s creativity realized programming that supported the youth of our community in having access to art and learning right at home in our Kawartha community.
Annie’s Thoughts on the Arts
Recently, Annie has been instrumental in helping the Gallery pack and prepare for our new space at 19 Cambridge here in Lindsay.
Annie’s time with the Gallery has allowed her a unique perspective around what she feels is the necessity of art, access to art and the creation of programs. She has found her time fulfilling and her favourite activities were around involving kids in creating art and learning different art mediums. Mediums spanning papier-mâché, Model Magic, sketching and chalk were just some of the art forms that Annie helped her students with during art camps and weekend programming. Annie states that “art is one of the important aspects of keeping us human. People can argue about the monetary value of the arts over STEM, or business, or trades, but there is no point in making a lot of money, or advancing society, if we end up with a world without the arts.” She continues her words of wisdom with: “We strive in life to reach a point of comfort where we don’t have to work as much, and when that happens, what do we spend that money on? On hobbies like arts and crafts, music, watching TV and films, remodelling a house, travelling to learn about different cultures. All of these things are part of the arts. It is our natural instinct to want to create, and I think that is truly beautiful, and things such as AI or lack of funding towards the arts is stopping people from having access to this desire, and stopping us from sharing our creations with each other.”
Annie believes that what makes a society functional and content is building a community, with the arts as a top priority. Although Annie is a STEM student, she does not live to work. She lives for experiences like playing the piano, learning calligraphy, improving her drawing skills or playing a video game. Annie states “I live for the experiences that can bring hope and colour to my life, and that is the true value of art to every single person on this planet.”
Rose’s Thoughts on the Arts
Growing up in Lindsay, Rose expresses that there was a time she didn’t quite appreciate the beauty of her hometown until she started working at the Gallery. When she had the privilege of seeing many pieces from the adult and youth juried exhibits, and the landscapes she was especially fond of, she was able to see her area in a new light. The brilliant local talent captured many different views of the region, from snowy birch forests (see: Sandra Ackert’s watercolours) to a shining piece depicting the Scugog at sunrise (see: Dorthea Weise).
An artist’s interpretation of scenery which she was so intimately familiar with, made her look around and feel a new appreciation for the beauty of Kawartha Lakes. The experience also exemplified for her the power that art has to give the viewer a new perspective on the subject, whether it be a concept, an experience, or the environment you’ve known your entire life. Rose comments that: “art (visual and otherwise), is often the only thing that enables one to see life from a new perspective.” She goes on to express that: “facts are important, but if I’ve learned anything in science, facts will never convince anyone on their own. A good book, a play or a painting, however? One cannot walk away from art unchanged, regardless of the magnitude of that change, and therein lies its immense value as a tool of understanding between people.”
Annie and Rose are just two of the examples of our youth that have contributed to and continue to contribute to promoting the value of the Arts and we look forward to introducing you to more of the youth participants of Kawartha Art Gallery’s Brain on Art Series!
It is through your support that the Gallery can continue to provide programming, for all ages, to support the physical and mental well being of our community. Learn about the many ways to support the Kawartha Art Gallery https://www.kawarthagallery.com/ways-to-support or to contribute please reach out to Susan: susan@kawarthagallery.com (705) 324-1780
