What is Art?
Students at Northridge Elementary School Answer the Question

When Northridge Elementary School art teacher Mikel Ibarra was in college, an art professor asked the class what art was. Ibarra recalls that no one could give a good answer. Now as an art teacher herself, Ibarra asks the same question to her students. Below are some of the answers she received.

“Art is beauty.”
—Saidat, Grade 4

“Art is a project that is made to show feelings, culture, something useful, or just made for fun.”
—Jason, Grade 5

“Art is when you do what you want to and make stuff of what some people might think is trash and listen to your heart and make what you want.”
—Holly, Grade 5

“Art is to have fun and free your mind.”
—Daniel, Grade 3

“Art is something unique and what you make. Like a thing that you make that is valuable to you.”
—Trinh, Grade 5

“Art is what your hands and heart make.”
—Cindy, Grade 5

“Art is when you listen to your heart and do it.”
—Stephanie, Grade 5

“Art is a way of communication and expressing your feelings in many ways.”
—Cierra, Grade 5

“Art is a way people connect.”
—Logan, Grade 5

“Art is where people express their feelings without talking.”
—Caleb, Grade 5

“Art is a language that everybody can understand.”
—Andra, Grade 5