Art Matters

Art Matters introduces students to the wide range of art that is around them.  Featuring an enormous assortment of types of art that numerous diverse artists have created for different people around the world, it demonstrates how pervasive and critical art is in our lives—from the emojis we text, to the furniture we sit on, to the buildings we live in, to the photographs we see.

Through stories, examples, thoughtful pedagogy, and in-depth discussions of process and history, Art Matters prepares students to experience art actively and meaningfully.  By asking questions and exposing readers to different viewpoints and ideas, the author gives students the tools to speak, write, think critically, and form conclusions about what they see in familiar and unfamiliar works.

This book will show students that art is everywhere, art is vibrant, and art matters.

ABOUT THE COVER ART

Over four hundred inner-city youths helped Judy Baca create The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a mural that spans 2,754 feet and teaches an inclusive history. A section, showing San Pedro Harbor in the year 1900, appears in the detail. Participating in the project impacted the muralists—cultivating creativity, a strong work ethic, and cooperation among rival gangs. The story of The Great Wall (which starts on page 152) is one of countless examples throughout this text that shows just how much art matters in people’s lives.