Reflecting on the Role of Art

Reflecting on the Role of Art

As I prepare for the “Save the Frogs” contest with my students, I find myself rethinking the role of art. The worlds children create in their drawings are always bright and full of joy—free from fear or despair. I often wish our real world could be as fun, safe, and peaceful as the one they imagine. A world where children can dream freely, express their feelings, and live in harmony with one another and with nature.

Image by Wesley

What makes me happiest is when my students’ drawings become more complex and full of stories—when their colors and lines begin to fill the entire page. Each new detail reveals how their minds are expanding. Their drawings tell me that they are growing not only as artists but as people. I hope they can continue to create with that same freedom and joy. And if we can pass down a world that allows such creativity and happiness to flourish, then perhaps that is the true purpose of art.

When I look back on my own childhood, I realize that the world I grew up in wasn’t so bad. There was no war, and though it wasn’t as materially rich as today, there were alleys to play in and friends to share them with. Neighbors cared for each other, and adults tried to make sure children had safe, open spaces to play. Of course, there were also moments of sadness. I still remember seeing a woman carrying a baby and holding two small children by the hand, going door to door to beg for food. Even as a child, I felt the deep sting of inequality, as sharp as the fallen white magnolia petals scattered on the ground.

Yet even in those hard times, children filled the streets with stories. We imagined, laughed, and ran. Looking back, I realize that giving children the chance to imagine—that is the responsibility of adults. In a world that is becoming more mechanical and technology-driven, art feels like a way for adults to give back a piece of their own lost childhood. It reminds us what it means to play, to dream, and to care.
​
Art has the power to make the world gentle again. It allows us to see one another with warmth and compassion. I hope for a world where children’s laughter echoes freely, where everyone—like the frogs in their drawings—can live safely and happily. To me, that is what “Save the Frogs” truly means: saving joy, imagination, and the fragile beauty of life itself. Every time I pick up a crayon or a brush with my students, I believe that art is helping us build that world, one small, colorful story at a time.