Art to me isn’t only high blown art with a capitol A. Sure, that has it’s place. There is that Pantheon of the greats that deservedly get tons of adulation. But when you ask, what does art do for me I think of art in all it’s myriad forms, both sophisticated and humble. I think I could honestly say that aside from love, I live for art.
I love folk art and folk music and folk dance. It amazes me the time and skill that went into some old forms of folk art. There are crazy creative things like hair lockets for mourners where they took the deceased’s hair and wove it into the tiniest intricate braided designs and placed it under glass in a locket with the person’s portrait. There are wheat braided sculptures, quilts, and many more things. I love it all because what it says to me is that everyone has the urge to create art What it gives me is a connection to that person from another time through a passion for self expression shared,
Shaker furniture shows me the beauty of simplicity.
I love the art of adornment from primitive tribal body painting on up to Balenciaga, Dior, Lagerfeld, McQueen, and Galliano….trying to hold back here, I could name many more, trust me! I just love that there seem to be limitless ways in which to change the shape form and expression of the human body through clothing. Hell, isn’t clothing better than plastic surgery? It allows you to be so many things without destroying your essential body integrity.
Another thing I get out of art is to experience another time and place through the magic of the movie theatre.
Great literature gives me insights into the human condition and helps me to understand people. I read a book when I was very young that was about gay lovers and I remember thinking that love is beautiful and that love is love whatever form it takes.
Oh I could go on forever, but you get the idea. Art is essential to me. Nothing could take its place and it has made me who I am.