Seeing Shapes

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Artist: Linda Kim

Title: Seeing Shapes

Attribution: Seeing Shapes, 2019, Linda M Kim

Year: 2019

Materials: Found fabric, found metal ring, embroidery floss, thread, wool batting

Dimensions: 37h x 35w inches

Image Statement: Looking at the loose chevron weave of the fabric, combinations of forms emerged in my head. This is spatial reasoning which has everyday applications because it involves problem solving. Multiple studies show that early music instruction is linked to enhanced spatial reasoning abilities. Overall, learning to play a musical instrument has many mental, cognitive and emotional health benefits and should be emphasized in primary education. No activity uses the entire brain like playing music. To illustrate, when our eyes see musical notes our brain converts these abstract symbols to appropriate timed sounds executed in rhythm by the coordination of our fingers/hands/feet. The result is improved fine motor, reading, listening, concentration and math skills. Nearly 2,400 years ago Plato said, “I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning.”