Do The Art....there is a place for you. The world needs YOUR art.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. I'd never been there, and to be able to see and touch national monuments, something I'd only ever seen in a movie or in a picture, was incredible.

Except for the walking part...I walked my butt off...I had an amazing time seeing such sites as the Holocaust Museum, The National Gallery of Art, The Ford Theater, The Lincoln Monument, The Washington Monument, The Jefferson Monument, and the various war memorials. 

But if you asked me what my MOST favorite was, I'd have to say the Hirshhorn Museum. Even though when we visited, the second floor was under construction so we were only able to see the third floor. STILL... it was not only mind blowing, but mind opening, too.

I haven't got a clue the name of this piece, but there's a bird and part of a doll in there. I think a spider, too. Incredible.

Something HUGE hit me as I walked around, staring at these pieces of art. I think some would see them and think 1) What the heck is this?  OR 2) I could throw a bunch of crap together and make the same thing.

That is NOT at all what I thought. Well, that's not necessarily true. Some I wondered what it was I was looking at, but not once did I look at a piece and think, "I can do that." In fact, these pieces, as abstract and different as they are, made me excited.

SOUTH AMERICAN TRIANGLE, by Bruce Nauman. Metal beams formed a triangle with an upside down chair suspended in the middle. Look at the beautiful designs it made on the floor.

My first thought was, "DO THE ART!"

Let me expound: Do the art, whatever art it may be. Do it! THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU. The world needs the art that only YOU can create. I don't care the medium--books, paintings, photography, dance, acting, music, etc....DO THE ART! 

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Not sure the name of this piece, but it is a multi-level work of art. There are bubbles that when you look in them, let you see the lower levels of the painting more clearly. (This is my hubby taking a closer look)

Claes Oldenburg's 7-Up from 1961 I'm not exactly sure why this piece intrigued me, but it did. There's something familiar (of course) and cartoonish, with a dash of "garbage look" to it, that drew me in. There's a story here, and I wish I knew it.

"Lick and Lather" by Janine Antoni> You may wonder why the title is what it is. Let me explain: The bust on the left is made entirely out of chocolate. While the the one on the right is made out of soap (hence the "Lather" part of the title. What about the "Lick?" Well, the lighter color on the chocolate bust is where the artist licked the sculpture. Interesting, huh?

Nick Cave’s “Soundsuit” You can learn more about this piece by clicking on the picture above.

The above piece was by far my FAVORITE! Seriously, there's legs, and beaded baskets from my childhood (I think my aunt had a ton of these), there's a BUNNY on the top and then to make this art piece truly fantastic IT'S IN THE SHAPE OF A CHRISTMAS TREE!

If I had thousands of dollars that I didn't need to use to simply live, I would buy this and put this in my living room. every holiday representing right there. Of course, that is not the intent of this art piece. Please, please, please, if you have a moment, go and check this incredible artist out HERE. 

I want to share a snippet from his site with you: "He says of himself "I have found my middle and now am working toward what I am leaving behind." Cave is well known for his Soundsuits, sculptural forms based on the scale of his body. Soundsuits camouflage the body, masking and creating a second skin that conceals race, gender, and class, forcing the viewer to look without judgment." Profound, right?

I am so glad I took the time to visit this particular museum. It filled me hope. It made me want to create. It helped me to realize that my art (novel writing) may not be completely understood by some, or liked and loved by others, but that's okay. Not everyone has to get me. Not everyone has to accept my story lines or my endings. That's okay.

THAT'S ART.

And there is a place in this giant world for all of us. Yes, even you.

Go make your art.

And in case you think you can do this art or that your kid could make something like this, watch the video below and open your mind a little more.