The arts and humanities are the human equation in our lives.
The arts are the cradle of creativity, which spills over into every aspect of our lives.
Young children learn to manipulate line, color and composition into a project that didn’t exist before. Eventually, this spills over into other areas of our lives.
Everything we enjoy and use was created or designed by someone for a particular need — physical or mental.
Yet, it seems, this aspect of our lives is thought to be frivolous or unnecessary by some. Creation requires the learning of basic design or principles such as in music, math, science and so on. These fundamentals are taught to us through successful application toward a specific goal. These fundamentals, though basic, eventually become more sophisticated, in depth, in all areas.
This requires “hands on” education as we progress. Isn’t this where teaching and facilities come in? Proper areas of learning and applications of the creative crafts involved are required to play the game. The creative arts are more important in our educational structure than are given credit for. This is not frivolous or unnecessary as deemed.
I was shocked and disappointed to see the “extremely low” art offerings by Centralia College for fall quarter 2026. It is almost back to the 1950s level; very sad indeed. Robert Bauer, art instructor at Centralia College, 1950s through 1970s, was instrumental in establishing a small but complete art department. A wide range of art subjects were offered. I know, as I was a part of this in 1974-1975. He, Jim Lundquist and I offered a wide range of offerings, including 3D art, which included pottery, sculpture, mold making and some carving.
This department was destroyed with no intention of replacement. It has been interesting to note that since the middle 1970s many of our community colleges have gone anti-art. In some cases, the facilities were switched over to computer offerings. Technology became a more important second and still is.
Art, then and now, became a frivolous offering and deemed unnecessary.
Interesting to me, though, in the latter 1970s, after Wenatchee Valley College scrapped the arts, the local area people put up $8 to $9 million to put into a facility on campus. They now have one of the finest and complete art offerings in the state.
I own and operate a small modern non-ferrous casting facility. It was designed with safety in mind and was perfect around students. There isn’t anything like it, in any college or university within the state. I have offered to give this to Centralia College. Of course this would require a facility. The answer was a flat “no.” Not Interested! Too bad, as this opportunity will die with me.
Wouldn’t it be nice if students learned what it took to make the bronze statues on campus or to make beautiful pottery like that of master potter Richard Roth of Winlock?
If any of you reading this feel as I do, please speak up; I will feel that I am not alone.
James “Jim” Stafford
Adna
