Reflections on Art

As I take the time this weekend to start addrressing artistic ideas and settings, I thought I would post some thoughts on art overall. We have just moved to a new place, and so we are considering what will go up on our walls. This has motivated me to reflect about what does it mean to put something up on a wall in your home?

I think, for me, it is extremely personal what goes up on the wall. I understand that people say, "Of course it's personal, it is art in your home." However, I would argue that it goes further than that. It is not something that you politely share with guests, or just to match color schemes in your house that match your personality. Art is about communication with your heart and soul, so therefore it is intensely personal in multiple ways, more so than most of us know.

If you look around, you see a lot of work passed off and sold in home decoration stores for that pleasing color match or design element and/or factor. If people are interested in that, that is good, but I feel it takes the uniqueness and personal feel out of the expression of your space. I know I have discussed this with my wife, Gina, that art is important and what goes on our walls has to be of a specific mind and quality, and that changes from person to person.

We live in an age and time where the art of advertising and graphic design dominate the public market. Take for example posters of comic book art and video game art...mass produced posters and prints say something to each viewer, just like an original picasso says something to the viewer. Which one is better? Well, of course, most people would probably say the Picasso, but I would also argue that every piece has its value, especially when it is chosen to hang on the wall in a person's house. It is a reflection of that person's personality. Therefore, I would say that since we vaule people, we should value the choices that they make in art, whether it is graphic art or fine art.

For me, however, since we have generations of artists in our family, it is important to hang art that is unique and hand crafted...because that is the tradition from which we come in our family. That is part of the choice that I make...that we make. even within the art that we choose, whether or not it is from my portfolio, a family member's portfolio, or someone else's, the images, colors, ideas, etc. are very important because they all reflect what we want to say and feel as we walk into our space.

Art is important because it affects the space we live in and how we think and feel. Art is a reflection of our life and time...so I believe the choices that we make with regard to art are significant ones. Have we decided what to put on our walls..Yes and no...we have general ideas, but I think we are still trying to figure out what we want to say when we hang those pieces up...I would encourage others to think about what they hang up as well, because I believe it to be an important choice for every household.

Just some thoughts for the day. I will post more work soon.

Thanks for reading!

Jesse