For most of us in the US, it’s called Tax Day–the day some of us run around trying to finalize our documents, and others breathe a sigh of relief until next year.
But around the world, it’s famous as the birthday of the 16th century polymath Leonardo Da Vinci. And for that reason the International Association of Art declared that April 15th is World Art Day.
From the UNESCO website:
Each year, on 15 April, World Art Day celebrations help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. It is also an occasion to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education.
The life of Leonardo Da Vinci is in many ways a beautiful model for the ways art can inspire and nurture curiosity about world, and the way that this curiosity can inform our art in turn. Leonardo’s studies of birds in flight, of human anatomy (in some cases, centuries ahead of his time), and the flow of water demonstrate the relationship between art and nature. Most famously, his painting the Mona Lisa is the product of decades spent understanding human beings, the natural world, and their relationship to it.
So remember to make art this week, Do Art Nation! And as you do, think about all the ways art ties us to one another, and to the world around us. Let us know what you create, and how you have been inspired!
