We humans, we’re depressed. Our financial world is all but crashing down on us and we are scared. Our entire lives are structured around money, and that structure is crumbling. Now what, when our trust in the value of money is failing us? We have put so much value in money that other more intrinsically valuable things, such as art and creative culture, have become nearly irrelevant to us. 

Since we’ve misplaced value in creativity, it can be difficult to appreciate anything artistic during a social depression. But it’s important that we try. And lucky for us, there are myriad arts events happening right here on campus. Considering the recent budget cuts, I am actually quite impressed with NAU’s lineup of art and cultural events this spring. 

In addition to recent shows such as Pablo Francisco, Art Spiegelman and Sherman Alexie, the next few months are filled with even more remarkable acts such as poet Nikki Giovanni, the Flagstaff Symphony, the NAU jazz festival, and assorted theater and choir events.

The reason this artistically inspiring lineup is important is because it depicts NAU’s dedication to prioritizing the arts. In America, art has never been a priority higher than money. In fact, nothing has been a higher priority than money. Therefore, in difficult and almost catastrophic economic times, art and cultural events are almost always the first to go. I’ve always found this contradictory to human nature, because inherently we are students of beauty, and art and culture are the vehicles through which we express the beauty we have learned.

I am convinced the major thing that will carry us through difficult times is beauty (art), because it is the thing that moves us toward profound inspiration. And inspiration will breed the change the world is so incredibly hungry for. Thus, I am not upset about collectively hitting economic rock bottom, because I’m hoping it will illuminate the beauty that is truly valuable in life. In their deepest essence, the arts are an indispensable factor in what sustains our peace and happiness.

As author Jeanette Winterson puts it, “Art saved me; it got me through my depression and self-loathing, back to a place of innocence.” I would like to think this same theory is applicable to humanity as a whole.

Without the lightness of beauty, it is extremely difficult to emerge from a dark depression. Art pulls us out from the sand we are sinking in. Art reminds us it is worth the struggle to get on our feet again. Collectively, globally, we need this now. We need to constantly be creating and viewing beauty to redefine how our future will look.

I am appreciative that I have the opportunity to fulfill my hunger for inspiring art at NAU.