Art Appreciation

“I want to live on an island where no one cares what day the mail boat arrives.” That was the caption of a piece of art that I regifted to a friend who held that philosophy. It was a very cool print of a skiff pulled up onto a tropical shore. When I saw it, I knew exactly to whom it should belong.

I’ve long felt that art serves its best purpose when it evokes something within us that speaks to our dreams, our life experience or perhaps our soul. I once owned an art gallery and have spent lots of time in them through the years, as I was married to an artist. I bring this up because I hope that at least one person reading this column will let go of their fear and actually step inside a gallery after reading this.

Folks who are highly educated in other fields, for some reason often feel intimidated looking at art, especially if a salesperson offers to help them. What’s the standard line? “I don’t know much about art, I just know what I like..” Well, I’m here to tell you that that’s good enough. Each piece of art in your surroundings really should be there because you like it. Something the artist put into that piece resonates with you. That makes an artist happy.

I have known many artists, and most of them create what their heart calls them to make. Don’t be afraid to ask them about the work. If they can, they will tell you what their inspiration was. Also, chances are, that helpful salesperson in the gallery knows interesting facts about the piece or the artist that will give it more meaning to you and perhaps open your eyes even wider to its beauty. Trust me on this, you don’t have to be wealthy, or knowledgeable or even a real buyer to browse in an art gallery. The owners don’t mind if you don’t buy anything. They know that if they make you feel comfortable, when you are in a buying mode, they will likely get your business.

When I think of memorable moments I have had with art, they are with the famous and not as famous. Standing in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and looking at VanGogh’s Starry Night moved me to tears. I had seen it so many times in print, that to actually walk right up to something that had touched his hand seemed almost surreal.

I have a small collection of what is known as intuitive art. That is, work that is done by artists with no formal training. I love the concept of people who create art simply for the joy of it, and often because something inside them drives them to do it – they can’t keep it inside. I happened on just such a piece at a restaurant in Lakeland which displayed art for sale. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Turns out, it was done by a seriously mentally handicapped person who was in an art program in his facility.

Each piece of art has a back story, and once you own it, it now has another story which is uniquely yours. So, the next time you want to peek inside a store or gallery, don’t let intimidation stop you. Walk in and let your eyes be opened in new and interesting ways.

By the way: Somewhere in a class I took, I was told what the five most famous American paintings are. Before I list them, what comes to mind for you? Anyway, they are:

•American Gothic by Grant Wood
•Nighthawks by Edward Hopper
•Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth
• Arrangement in Grey and Black (Whistler’s Mother) by James Whistler
• Portrait of George Washington – I’m not sure by whom