As I am laying here in my bed, with my laptop in front of me, I am having a very difficult time figuring out what art means to me. Even though I have gone to a performing arts high school and have studied music, a version of art, almost my entire life, I have never really had to give much thought into what the true definition of art is, until now. And as I lay here, looking around my room, trying to find an answer to this abstruse question, I am slowly starting to realize that art can be anything and is everywhere. It is in the white nightstand that is next to me, it is in the colorful quilt on top of me, it is in the knitted sweater I am wearing, and it is in everything else surrounding me. Anything that is created by someone is a form of art, even though we often do not realize it.

To many people, the idea that “anything created is art” may be difficult to grasp. The reason why is because society has set such a high standard as to what art can be. Oftentimes, all people can think about when they hear the word “art” are artworks by Picasso, Van Gogh, and music by Mozart, and Beethoven. They think that these intricate pieces of work are what define art. This is even shown in museums, where the most “advanced” versions of art are displayed instead of the more simple kind of art, made by everyday people. The Brooklyn Museum, for example, most often displays artwork by artists considered to be the best and most innovative. But does that mean that a simple doodle drawn by a 5 year old is not good enough to be considered a masterpiece? Does it not have enough potential to even be considered as something that would be displayed in a museum?

A piece of music that I think best displays my belief that “anything created is art” is a composition by John Cage called 4’33”. In this three-movement piece of music, the instrumentalists/performers on stage are instructed not to play anything for a total of four minutes and thirty-three seconds. The purpose of this is to show the audience that anything can be considered music, and that even the audience can contribute to the piece just by randomly sneezing or dropping something on the floor. The sounds that are created by the audience are what contribute to the piece, proving that anyone can create art as long as they make a noise, draw something, or do ANYTHING.

Although I originally thought art was too difficult to define, I am glad that I came to the conclusion that art is limitless. It is inspiring to think that anyone can be an artist, irrespective of the quality of their work. All we have to do is create.