My Idea of Art

When I was in college, I took a course called, "History of Art" (actually it was two semesters). For a lecture class, I really liked it. My instructor would show about 60 slides, two slides at a time and talk about the artist and so on. Near the end of the semester, she showed slides of other artists versions (renditions) of "The Last Supper". One artist did it using soiled napkins and ketchup.

A guy in my class asked the question, "Why is that considered art? It is so ugly! My dog could do a better job than that!" Rather than blowing a fuse that this guy would be asking this late into the semester, she asked if anyone in the class would like to answer the question. I, who never said a word the entire semester, raised my hand. I think she was surpised but nodded so I answered. "I can understand why you would feel that way, but perhaps the artist intention is not to be beautiful, but to get some other reaction from the viewer. For instance, the first time I saw, "The Scream" I immediately felt horror and sadness and it was then I realized art does not have to be beautiful or to be enjoyed." (Not only that, it was a small black and white photo of it in a book).

I did not know if it was a good answer or not and I figured someone else would add their two cents worth but no one else did and the instructor said, "Well put" and moved on.

So, that is what I would like people who do not get art to understand, it does not need to be beautiful. I see a lot of clothes in stores but I do not like them all. It also does not have to mean something.

Family Update: We went to the camp for the dinner and skit. This year I packed a meal since in years past we had to wait or they were out of food by the time we got there. Bree was in the last group and she had a big part...she did very well. She did not seem nervous at all.

On the way home, my mother was in the back of the van with the five year old. He was talking the whole time. She finally said, 'I think you are exaggerating (sp?) Do you know what than means? It means you are making a bigger deal out of something." So they practiced saying the the word a few times. Then she said, "There you learned a new word. You are a smarty pants" and Luke said, "Oh Grandma, you are exaggerating!"

Guess you had to be there, but it was funny at the time.

Have a good one!