Art is a very interesting and ambiguous subject. People have very strong opinions about art that can attack or praise art. But, art is not about the opinions of people about the art itself. The message of the art is the most important aspect, and I think that is the whole essence of art. Art delivers a message and creates tensions.
What is art? That is the question. It ranges from, in some cases 4 dots on a piece of paper to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. That includes a very wide range of pieces. Many people think art is just the pieces in the museum or galleries. However, art is not confined to one building. Art is everywhere around us. Our pre-conceived notions blind us, close us up to true art. When you walk by the street performer putting colors on canvas, or the homeless man playing guitar on the sidewalk, or the tourist taking a photo with his camera, stop and realize that that is art. Art has very few limitations.
Art has to create tension. We all think that tension is a bad thing, but clearly it is not, according to Martin Luther King Jr. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, King explains the necessity of tension as it leads to progress. Tension is any struggle, and emotion, and feeling and art evokes theses tensions. They can be inspiration that starts an artistic movement, a visceral feeling that inclines you to change the world, or as simple as, “Wow that’s beautiful,” or,” Cool, that sounds amazing.” Art speaks to people in many different ways.
The Brooklyn Museum had many of examples of art: portraits, sculptures, masks, statues, furniture, many of the same things that we saw when we went to museums as little kids on school field trips. There were many things in the Museum that stood out to my group and me, either because they were awe-inspiring, simply beautiful, or in some cases we asked ourselves, “Is this art?” One piece in particular, Nick Cave’s Soundsuit, perplexed us. We didn’t know why in the world someone would make this, take the time to put all the twigs together, and what is the meaning of this piece of art? We asked so many questions at the museum, more than I thought humanly possible. That is the purpose, I think, of museums, is to get the individual to think about art, to open their minds up to different kinds of art. Places like the Brooklyn Museum and the traditional places where we can find art provide the foundation for exploring more art. They are great starting points for the journey into the world of art.
