Imagine yourself in a world where everything was black and white: nothing was different, nothing was unusual, nothing would push the envelope, and everything would be constant. Sounds exciting and fantastic, right? If you agreed with everything in the previous statement, I would get out a little bit more, because the world is not like that one bit. How did our world become bright, vibrant, and a collage of life? Through the self-expression and creativity of humans like you and me. We are the creators and artists of the world we live in, and we are the ones who will bring it to its full potential through the art we imagine and produce.

Senior Honors and Entertainment Industry Studies major, Abby Janis, feels that expressing art to others is the best way to bring positivity to the world.

“A good piece of art is so meaningful and impactful, and I want to further that,” Janis said as she expressed her desire to be involved in entertainment public relations. Her newest desire is to possibly create a nonprofit for musicians. This dream came into her mind when the Orlando Massacre happened. She wants to spread the responsibilities of artists to the public as well as showcasing how art represents and impacts others. “We have such a potential to affect others and at least shed a light on others and their actions,” Janis said as she outlined her dream.

Janis appreciates all art forms, but the one she connected the most to was theater growing up. But now, she is more of a fanatic of the philosophy of art. “Art is the imitation of life and its truth,” Janis said as she further explained how the philosophy of humanity can be expressed as love through art. She also pointed out how there are no pieces of art that exercise hate, even though there may be pieces that showcase it, but never is the main reason to birth hate.

Janis also spoke about the idea of artists loving themselves and producing art through this realization of love and life inside of their body and art. “Being an artist is to love yourself fully and truly. If you don’t love yourself then you will never let it outside of you,”she said. Being honest is the first step to realizing your potential within a world of creativity, and Janis realized this within the past few years.

During her time in college, she has had difficulty with expressing and loving herself through her artwork. “My creativity has been thwarted and silenced in the past years, partly because of social reasons and partly I am realizing how logic minded I am. But one thing I have really realized this semester and summer is how much I’m holding myself back from my creativity.” Now, Janis has signed up for creative writing classes this coming fall semester so she many freely write without hindering herself. She is starting to feel confident in her artwork and her ability to showcase her writing to others that may influence someone’s life.

“So far I’ve learned, I am beautiful and it is my utmost joy to make others feel beautiful too,” Janis said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Art is a way into the heart and soul of someone, and every person has a unique story as to how they reach within themselves to express it. Each person is different. Each person is unique. And to find ourselves in art is the most honest way to express oneself. As Tony award-winner, Lin-Manuel Miranda explained, “We chase the melodies that seem to find us until they are finished songs and start to play..." We are those songs, so let's make a symphony for the world to hear.

In-text Citations:

Abby Janis, Interview, June 20th, 2016

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony Award Acceptance Speech, June 12th, 2016