I am for an art that takes a life outside of pencils and paint.
I am for an art that embodies rooms and human beings rather than canvases,
Although I am for the art the embodies a canvas, too.
I am for an art made of nothing but color,
I am for the art of losing your boundaries and depth perception in a room of light.
I am for an art that makes you feel like somebody new,
The art that makes you walk around a gallery wondering who you are.
I am for the art of literally changing yourself.
Paint a new face on and wear some fancy clothes, go by a new name.
I am for an art that makes noise,
I am for an art that tastes good,
I am for an art that you can touch,
I am for an art that makes you sniffle,
I am for an art that you see,
I am for an art that takes up every sense in your body, capturing you whole.
I am for an art that poses questions,
One that isn’t so obvious at first glance, one that you have to sit and think about.
I am for the art that is put under harsh critiques but still rises up because the people love it.
I am for the art that may not be called art when stumbled upon.
I am for the art that requires class debates that don’t mean a thing to decide “Is this really art?”
I am for the art of the modern day aesthetic.
I am for the art of yellow things and the art of jean overalls over striped shirts.
I am for the arts that you can only see once,
The arts that cannot be hung in a museum and displayed for everyone’s eyes, just for the special.
I am for the art that catches comments like “I could do that!”
Or worse, “My kid could do that!”
I am for that art that’s passed by on the way to see the famous Matisse at the end of the hallway.
I am for the art that doesn’t get much recognition, but deserves it.
I am for the art that doesn’t get a bid at the art auction,
I am for the art that sits in storage containers in grandmother’s house because you just needed some money and painting was all you had.
I am for the art that beckons your attention, in a good way or a bad way.
Because, is there really bad attention? As long as people are spending time, using up thoughts to relive your work, haven’t you won?
I am for the art that lingers in your head for days on end.
I am for the art that you don’t even remember five minutes later.
I am for all art, living and breathing, dead or alive.
I am for the act of making art.