Art is everywhere

As you start this week, may you notice art.

Kyle and I got in to a conversation this weekend about the definition of art. Is art art because of the motive behind the creator? Is it the viewer’s responsibility, indicated by how he or she interprets it? Is there an objectivity to it, a dividing line between art and non-art, or even between good art and bad art?

We were sitting at a cafe playing easy listening from the 80s (if you get caught between the moon and New York City…), talking about the uniqueness of art being so subjective; how one person might love what we don’t like, and vice versa. It’s not a matter of production, because a song can be produced in the exact same method and result in a sound that I prefer, as opposed to Saaaaailing takes me awaaaaay…

But just because it’s not my style, doesn’t mean it’s not art. And just because my daily life might be filled with the mundane, the everyday, what I might not label as lovely—doesn’t mean it’s not art.

Kyle pointed out that if you stop and think about it, everything could be considered art in some way, and that if it were a priority of ours, we’d be continually astonished at the artistry surrounding us. “The fern in that pot—look at that!” “Look at how the pen just pours out ink for me—amazing!” “The yolk in this egg in contrast to the avocado slice… what an astonishing combination of goldenrod and sage!”

Now, you don’t have to be a crazy person and talk in exclamation points. But what if we called it art, the everydayness of it all? What if we slowed down just a bit and noticed that the even-ness of a book’s pages, the dimples in a toddler’s pudgy hand, and the ability for one floor to connect to two via stairs could all be art?

We are surrounded by art, by beauty, by majesty. And we are created to take part in its creation (there’s a good book that just released about that, actually). This week, slow down just a bit, and acknowledge the art in your life. It’s everywhere.

Top photo credit