Art influences youth?

By: Madison Martin

The environment is a huge topic in our current society. There are several different methods that Americans are taking to create a better environment for future generations to live in and to protect our environment so it still exists centuries from now. But, when one thinks of green activism, one usually doesn’t think of the word art. Art plays a major impact on how future generations view their environment and how they will treat the environment. At least it does in Armenia.

Last year, Dr. Randall Rhodes from Frostburg State University, traveled to Armenia. Armenia has been through a lot of turmoil in the past. It was part of the former Soviet Union, and is now one-half of its’ former size. “Armenia has been victimized… Armenia is in a state of panic and needs help,” said Rhodes during his Green Art Education in America presentation. Rhodes spoke about Armenia during the Focus Frostburg event that focuses on the environment.

Armenia is struggling due to a wide range of power struggles and political issues. There are extreme poverty rates in Armenia. If the status of Armenia continues to decline at the rate that it has the past thirty plus years, then over half of 3,000 plants based in Armenia will face extinction. A majority of the land in Armenia has been negatively affected by the poverty and hardships that Armenia has faced. Armenia could potentially be a large source for food and other natural resources in the future because it has seven different climate zones.

“Armenians are currently asking themselves the question of how they can heal the nature and natural state of Armenia," said Dr. Rhodes. Armenians are now trying to reach the youth of their nation by the means of art. "Armenians are using education to help pull families out of poverty." There are after-school programs that enable the children to learn more about the arts. The work that the students do in the programs helps them grasp a better concept of the environment and how to treat it better.

 "Armenia is extremely focused on art because it can make a change in society," said Rhodes. By teaching children art, Armenians are hoping that younger generations will make better decisions pertaining to the environment and to Armenia. Rhodes claimed that he believed this should be a practice that, perhaps, the American education system should use.