Madison’s art scene still blows me away to this day. After spending my first year at UW-Madison, there’s no doubt that this city attracts an amazing array of performances and immense talent that shaped my freshman year. From concerts at iconic venues like The Orpheum, performance art at the beautiful Overture Center, to simply walking down the street listening to music on my own, it’s quite apparent that there’s no shortage of artistic expression in this city. It’s this artistic expression and freedom that gives people a chance to have experiences that will help shape their lives and who they are.
In a city like Madison, you’ll come in contact with art everywhere. It could be when you’re walking down State Street and see street performers. You may hear amazing new music in your favorite coffee shop while you study. You’ll see incredible paintings, drawings and photographs on the walls of almost every building you step foot in. As a result, other people’s artistic expressions will become part of your day-to-day life.
First impressions are important to a lot of people. Art is inherently designed to grab your attention. If you connect with something, you’ll revisit it because it made you feel a certain way and want to feel that again. As time goes on, you become more invested in the vibe that you feel when you interact with work that catches your attention. This is when things really start to have an impact on how you live your life.
You’ll find yourself listening to new music that gives you a similar feeling. The music will set the tone for your day, and before you know it, the music you listen to will become a soundtrack for your nights out with friends, nights in relaxing or even nights spent studying. The music will be in the background of your life, and it can make you feel any emotion you could ever imagine. You’ll see artwork and designs you love, and you’ll start filling your life with visuals that speak to you. Artwork will adorn your walls and make your apartment or dorm feel like a true home. You may even discover a completely new passion.
And the arts aren’t here just to make us feel. They’re here to make us think. So many pieces of artwork come from an artist feeling inspired by something they find extremely important. Human expression allows us to comment on issues that the world faces in a way that traditional words can’t. Lyrically dense songs, emotionally theatric performances, beautiful poetry and thought-provoking visuals that grab our attention make us think about what they mean and what the artist wanted us to see or hear. We become exposed to new perspectives and ideologies. The world becomes a larger place after we discover what exists outside of our little bubble, but it also helps the world feel a little bit smaller. We are all different in nearly every way, but what all of us share is the presence of art.
The reason why the arts matter in college is because it’s a connection between you and everyone else in the world. College is a time for new friendships, new experiences and personal growth. Differences can be put aside, if only for a moment, all because of a common love. Art is something to be shared, and there are few things that make bonds stronger than those formed over a mutual love or appreciation for something created out of another human’s self-expression. These connections and exposure to new cultures and beliefs will drastically affect how you see the world, those close to you and yourself.
Art is going to be with you for your entire college career. It’ll be there when you’re happy. It’ll be there when you’re sad. It’ll be there when you’re with your friends. It’ll be there when you’re cramming for finals. It’ll make you feel and it will make you think.
