I Love Art
Honestly, I was never really a huge fan of art. To me, these old paintings were just antiques; images on canvas from a bygone era. They held no interest for me. But then...
One day, back sometime in the 1990s, I was on the Metro riding through Washington DC. There was a flyer or a poster, I don't remember which, advertising a show not far from one of the train's stops. It was part of the Smithsonian, just not one of its larger buildings. The exhibit was several blocks away from what most people think of as The Smithsonian. I had nothing much else to do so I got off at the appropriate stop and walked the few blocks down to see what this was all about.
There, in this little place tucked away on a back street in DC, was an exhibit showing the work of Remedios Varo. I'd never heard of this woman but, gazing at the paintings on the walls, I was in awe. I was captivated. How had I never seen these things before? How had I not known of this incredible woman?
One painting, in particular, grabbed my attention. It was called "Vagabundo" and it was based on the image of The Fool card in the Tarot deck. I wasn't terribly familiar with Tarot but I had a basic knowledge of the cards and this painting caught me up in its spell. Like the fool in the Tarot deck, here was an image of a man heading in one direction but looking in another. The clothing he wore wrapped around him like a shell, encapsulating him and protecting him from the world around him, allowing him to hide from reality. The path he was on wound back and forth, directionless. I suppose what struck me about this painting was that it could have been a picture of me. I didn't have much money with me but I found a 2"X4" magnet in the gift shop which featured this painting and I bought it. I still have it to this day, gracing my refrigerator door.
Since that day I have taken more time to appreciate art. I am still not an expert. I can't stand in front of a painting and wax eloquent on the possible thoughts of the artist. But I can stand in front of a painting and enjoy the experience of doing so. I have even taken to the brush myself on occasion. I am by no means a master painter but I can at least say that I do like most of what I have done. My paintings tend to be impressionistic. I enjoy blending colors on the canvas and giving the feel of motion.
I love art in all its forms. Music, dance, whatever. It's all art. Some I can appreciate, some I can't. But whether I personally appreciate a particular piece of art or a particular performance is irrelevant. What matters is that there is art in the world. I would rather the world be filled with art that I hate than to be devoid of art altogether.
One day, back sometime in the 1990s, I was on the Metro riding through Washington DC. There was a flyer or a poster, I don't remember which, advertising a show not far from one of the train's stops. It was part of the Smithsonian, just not one of its larger buildings. The exhibit was several blocks away from what most people think of as The Smithsonian. I had nothing much else to do so I got off at the appropriate stop and walked the few blocks down to see what this was all about.
There, in this little place tucked away on a back street in DC, was an exhibit showing the work of Remedios Varo. I'd never heard of this woman but, gazing at the paintings on the walls, I was in awe. I was captivated. How had I never seen these things before? How had I not known of this incredible woman?
One painting, in particular, grabbed my attention. It was called "Vagabundo" and it was based on the image of The Fool card in the Tarot deck. I wasn't terribly familiar with Tarot but I had a basic knowledge of the cards and this painting caught me up in its spell. Like the fool in the Tarot deck, here was an image of a man heading in one direction but looking in another. The clothing he wore wrapped around him like a shell, encapsulating him and protecting him from the world around him, allowing him to hide from reality. The path he was on wound back and forth, directionless. I suppose what struck me about this painting was that it could have been a picture of me. I didn't have much money with me but I found a 2"X4" magnet in the gift shop which featured this painting and I bought it. I still have it to this day, gracing my refrigerator door.
Since that day I have taken more time to appreciate art. I am still not an expert. I can't stand in front of a painting and wax eloquent on the possible thoughts of the artist. But I can stand in front of a painting and enjoy the experience of doing so. I have even taken to the brush myself on occasion. I am by no means a master painter but I can at least say that I do like most of what I have done. My paintings tend to be impressionistic. I enjoy blending colors on the canvas and giving the feel of motion.
I love art in all its forms. Music, dance, whatever. It's all art. Some I can appreciate, some I can't. But whether I personally appreciate a particular piece of art or a particular performance is irrelevant. What matters is that there is art in the world. I would rather the world be filled with art that I hate than to be devoid of art altogether.
51-55, M
