Imagine a World Without Art
by: Stephanie Andrews
When I think about art, my mind automatically goes to a painting or drawing, whether it’s in a sketchbook, on a wall, or on a computer. While art encompasses so much more—including drama, music, film, and other forms of creation— this visual medium is the one that appeals to me the most. We can create art or experience art, but I wanted to ask why art is meaningful to the world, if it is, actually.
Luckily, I know many artists, and I am even fortunate enough to call some of them my friends. Nonetheless, they still seem like rare birds or an odd creature because they spend a large portion of their days creating something that others may or may not experience. This feels different from what I do for work, though it’s still artistic. My designs are made for a specific person and to solve a particular problem. The folks that I am talking about are creating art or experiencing art for their own personal reasons. This made me want to ask them, “Why?”, “Why do you make art?”, “Why do you collect art?“, “What does art give you?” Over the past couple of weeks, I asked them some of these questions and got some interesting answers. The other question that seems related is “Why does art matter”? This last question weighs on me for longer than I freely admit. Please note that some of these quotes are shortened or clarified slightly.
Art by Crysta Luke
Crysta Luke, artist:
“I make art as a way of returning to myself. When I’m painting, I slow down enough to feel what’s moving beneath the surface of my everyday life-the quiet emotions, the internal weather, the parts of me that don’t always have language. To me, art is for holding what is too deep or too subtle for words-the things we can feel, but can’t always articulate. I think for the viewer, art creates a kind of connection in that same language beyond language. It allows something inside one person to be recognized in another. Art is both grounding and expansive: it holds presence, memory, and transformation. It offers a point of meeting where our internal worlds can touch.”
Art by Penelope Emmons
Penelope Emmons, artist (and my mom!)
“Creating art satisfies my need for playfulness. Like a child who loses track of time, I am completely in the moment, without thoughts of the past or the future. I need to create: visual art, yummy food, a beautiful home, or a garden. I also long for beauty and color. I believe that beauty can actually heal shame or other negative emotions. Yet, a “horrible” painting still gives me the fun of creating. So the process and not the product is my reward.”
Art by Marcelle Roy
Marcelle Roy, artist
“For years, I kept tear sheets for inspiration. When I started making my Kimono Collages, the images, textures, and colors all began to come together. When I am making my art, time stops and the constant chatter in my brain quiets.”
An art vignette by Jesica Eames
Jesica Eames, client, therapist, and art collector
“The art in our house is a place for our eyes to rest and our hearts to connect and feel. In addition to the sensory joy, the constellation of work collected for more than 30 years is an outward and visible sign of relationships and connections in our lives.
When I study a piece or get lost in thought looking at something, I inevitably think about the artist, especially if we know them, and the gift of creating and letting go of their work to exist in someone else’s life and story. Everything in our collection is connected to a story, a memory, a person, an experience, a loss, a celebration, so that we can trace our lives through our collection, and that is grounding and meaningful to me.”
Dena Rosenzweig, client, docent at the High Museum of Art
” I love art, and being a docent gives me opportunities to learn and engage with the art. I share this new knowledge with visitors, but more importantly, I consider myself a facilitator and encourage visitors to interact with the art. This allows the museum experience to resonate after they depart.”
Art by Rusty Walton
Rusty Walton, artist
“The question is difficult to answer, not because the reason is elusive, but because it is so close that I have never even considered it. It’s like asking, “Why do I drink water? Because I thirst. One doesn’t question thirst; one quenches it when necessary. It’s an urge that feels primal, organic, biological. If someone were to ask, “Why do you spend time, money, energy, making art?”, my astonished response would be “Why wouldn’t I?”. And I don’t think I, or other artists, are particularly special or unique in this way. The urge to create lies within all of us, aware of it or not. Visual art is just where my attention goes, for now.”
Art by Amy Sabrin
Amy Sabrin, artist
“If I really analyze it, I think there are two main reasons I make art, both of which are selfish:
- THE PROCESS
To make art, one must be very present in the moment. Painting is at once meditative, challenging, frustrating, exhilarating and intellectually stimulating. Trying to get good at it is one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done. I can stay in my studio working for hours.
- THE COLORS
Color contains all the beauty in the world. The power of color — to express emotion, to convey a mood, or a time of day or sense of place — is limitless. Mixing colors and experimenting with color combinations gives me a little thrill. Simply put, color brings me joy. ”
Art by Daisy-Ann Dickson
Daisy-Ann Dickson, artist
“Art, for me, is a practice of meditation and reflection. It allows me to explore how experiences, especially the difficult, messy ones, can be reshaped into something honest and beautiful. Each piece is a reminder that change is ongoing and that there is value in what can be rebuilt.”
A great read so far…
As I read these, I see some common themes of a higher purpose, mindfulness, escape, curiosity, and community. This resonates with me and makes the reasons to participate in art more relevant. I have also been reading a book that coincides with this thought: Your Brain on Art. How the Arts Transform Us.
I am enjoying this scientific yet approachable book, and I encourage you to take a look!
On a final note, our Open House is rapidly approaching, and we would love to see you! The artwork of Marcelle Roy and Daisy-Ann Dickson will be on display in our studio. They will also be there, and we will have light bites and a signature cocktail. This annual party is in honor of you, you-our family, friends, clients, and community, and all of the support that you give us. Enjoy with us and you will not need to imagine a world without art!
Until next week,
Stephanie