Art appreciation

I’ve been thinking a lot about art lately. Things like, What compels someone to create art? What point is an artist trying to get across? What’s it like to live as an artist? I’m thinking of art in the strict visual sense.

I’ve had an idea for an essay or even longer piece brewing in my head for quite some time. I can’t quite explain it yet, because I really have no idea what it’s about. But it has to do with visual art and the compulsion to create. I think writers would have a wealth of stories if they looked closely at artists and tried to imagine why they created what they did. Artists are crazy, interesting, creative people. Of course they make for good stories!

This idea has really taken hold of me in the past couple of weeks, and I cannot explain why it has suddenly “popped up.” It’s a “shiny new object,” as writer friend Kristin Dodge-Narjes says. That could be part of it. My memoir is hanging out there, an essay is hanging out there, another essay is hanging out there. And none is completed. I’m terrible at following through, impatient when it comes to revising. But I love creating something new. In my mind, something new has unlimited potential. It can go anywhere. However, the major attraction is that it HAS NOT YET FAILED. Other pieces of writing become frustrating at times, rejected by editors, agents, publishers. It can be discouraging. But that piece still brewing hasn’t been shot down yet, making it much more “shiny” and appealing.

Still, there seems to be something grabbing me by the figurative shoulders and telling me to pursue this piece on art. I can’t shake it, nor do I want to. I’m trying to quiet my mind and determine the path I must take.

I’m trying to read as many essays on art as possible. Not criticism, not analysis, but simply essays. It’s been a little difficult finding something so specific, but I have some leads. Right now I’m reading THE ACCIDENTAL MASTERPIECE by Michael Kimmelman, the NYTimes art critic. I’m reading it slowly to let it all sink in. So far, it’s been insightful and I find myself underlining many passages.

I’ve ordered John Updike’s book of art essays called STILL LOOKING. I’m really excited to dig into that. I didn’t realize he had a book of art essays until I started browsing around on Amazon. “An Oil on Canvas” appears in the book I use for comp class, and I think it’s a great model to emulate.

I guess you could always say I’ve had a strong art appreciation, but it’s not something I often honor and acknowledge. Sometimes I feel that one needs to be an “artist” in order to fully appreciate it, claim it, write about it. But it’s time to get over that.

I’m honoring my “inner artist” today by tagging along on a Bethany field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Walker Art Museum, and the Basilica of St. Mary. I’m so excited! It’s hard to carve out time to go to those places, and a bus trip is a wonderful excuse. I should be doing work (lots of it!), but it feels great to say “F--- it” for one day.