The artist shall remain nameless

As my grandmother used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.” With that piece of etiquette in mind, I will not reveal where I was last night, what kind of music I listened to or who the artist was.  I confess that I did not enjoy the music, at all, which intrigued me actually.  The reason being is that I was at a very established venue and was undeniably in the presence of very talented and renowned artists.  But for me there was no “there” there.  I did not connect or have an internal response to the music.  I was bored.

I imagine that what I experienced at that concert is what many people experience when they come to the arts.  For every contemporary art exhibit, ballet performance, off-off Broadway theater, etc., there are well-educated and reasonably sophisticated people saying “I don’t get it” and they walk away thinking that art is boring and a real drag.  They think, therefore, that art is something one should force oneself to do now and then in order to appear at least somewhat cultured and well-rounded.  Absolutely not!  Art can be enjoyable, inspiring, interesting, uplifting, eye-opening and meaningful (one way or another).  Some things will absolutely leave you cold without the slightest interest in learning more or trying to develop an appreciation, and that’s okay.  But don’t give up, don’t stop.  Continue on the path to find the magic.  It may take some time and might not hit you right away, but there will be something there the very first time that makes you want to go back.