World Art Day
World Art Day is celebrated on April 15, the birthday of the famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci. This day was established by the International Association of Art, to raise worldwide attention to the work of international artists, and the ways of creative expression that exist. National Art Day celebrates all kinds of art, encouraging people to expand their artistic interests, and get to know artistic mediums that they were not aware of.
History of National Art Day
The International Association of Art (IAA) founded World Art Day on April 15, 2012, after a proposition was put forward during their 17th General Assembly. They wished to create a day in celebration of the fine arts and to promote creative activity on an international scale.
The date chosen was Leonardo Da Vinci’s birthday, in honor of one of history's most renowned artists and inventors.
The first official World Art Day celebration in the United States was held in Los Angeles, in 2015, where commemorations have been held ever since. The American chapter of the IAA was founded in 2017, with the intention of spreading World Art Day celebrations all over the country.
In 2019, during the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference, World Art Day was officially proclaimed as a UNESCO observance, and the International Association of Art was made an NGO partner of UNESCO.
Why do we celebrate World Art Day?
Since the beginning of time, humans have been creating and enjoying art. It is a way to express ourselves and see ourselves represented in other people's work.
Art plays a very important role in our lives, whether we realize it or not. It promotes creativity, diversity, and innovation, and encourages people to start conversations about their interests and share knowledge with each other, opening horizons, and making us look at things in different ways. This is why we need to continue to support art and artists and contribute to the diffusion of new works of creative expression around the world.
Many people associate art with Fine Art, such as painting or sculpture. In reality, art is constantly evolving, and it is anything in a visual form that has been created by someone using their imagination and creative skills. Art is photography, calligraphy, architecture, design, cinema, fashion, and so on. Look around you, you are probably enjoying art every day without noticing.
World Art Day aims to spread art and artistic expression all around the world, get new artists known, and make art accessible to everyone.
The Famous Artists
This World art day you could spend some time learning about the most famous artists who ever existed, here is a list of five to get you started:
- Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in Vinci, a republic of Florence. As well as an artist he was also an inventor and a polymath with a curiosity in many subjects including music, mathematics, the sciences, and geology. His two most famous works are probably the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
- Michelangelo was also born in Florence and lived at the same time as Da Vinci. He was born in 1475 and as well as painting and sculpture he was also an architect and a poet. He created "David", a statue that is probably the work he is most well known for.
After trying many years, and then
near death, the able man may know
an image living in the alpine stone.
If at all, the high and new come slowly,
and, for us, they do not last so long.
Oh my beloved! nature's like that too,
who tried for beauty times untold
until she triumphed, and made you.
Yet by that token she is old
and almost at the end of her career.
So terror, which is always near
to beauty, feeds desire strange food.
My mind falls silent and no longer says
if joy or pain be more: the sight
of you calls forth the End of Days,
yet gives me great delight.After trying many years - A poem by Michelangelo
- Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in Zundert, Netherlands. His post-impressionist style led to the creation of such masterpieces as Sunflowers, and The Starry Night. Despite immense talent, Van Gogh was plagued by his own mental health and he committed suicide in 1890. He was only recognized for his genius after his death.
- Pablo Picasso came from Málaga in the south of Spain. As a highly influential artist, he created the Cubist movement alongside the French artist Georges Braque. He is known for masterpieces such as "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" and "Guernica."
- Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, known as simply Rembrandt, was a dutch artist who lived between 1606 and 1669. His most famous works include The Night Watch" and "Self-Portrait with Two Circles."
How to Celebrate World Art Day
Every year, the International Association of Art hosts events and festivities for World Art Day, in Los Angeles. If you live near or are willing to make the trip, attending is the perfect way to celebrate World Art Day and get into the spirit.
However, there are other ways you can celebrate this day. Here are some ideas:
- Join an art class. Many people have artistic hobbies, so why not do it too? If you have an interest in drawing, pottery, photography, or any other art forms, joining a class is a great way to better your skills and get to know others that share your interest.
- Visit a museum or a gallery. Nothing makes us appreciate art like seeing some real masterpieces up close and in person. Get inspired by paying a visit to your local museum.
- Host a World Art Day party. Encourage friends and family to use their creativity to make something, and hold an art competition to pick the best artist out of all of you.
