*Out of It*

I am all over the place today. It's been one of those days where I would have been better off just staying in bed!
It all started out with the slow morning. I felt overwhelmed in getting ready because my aunt was leaving today for Maine and I wanted to help her out the door...and then I got up late and was running behind because of that...and then I had to drive myself to the train for the first time so I had to deal with finding a parking space, missing my intended train and all of that jazz....

But that was only the start of it! I had to meet for class on the corner of South Street and Third which was about a 30 minute walk from where my train lets me off. After missing the train I was running behind schedule and so I had to speed walk to my destination...however, I was still 5 minutes late. I HATE BEING LATE! I am usually at least 20 minutes early...if that gives you any kind of indication of how much I hate being late.
Anyway, I was fine and dandy again until I just realized that I did not email myself a copy of my paper that is due today at 5 o'clock and there is no way that I can have that paper here on time even if I go back to the 'burbs and email it because I was planning on working on it for about an hour or so to perfect and essentially finish it. Bascially, I am screwed.
My prof says no big deal...but that's a facade. Of course it's a big deal! The paper is due....where the heck is my head today?

Well, I am just going to forget all of that...moving on.
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I went to the Philadelphia Art Museum with my aunt yesterday. It was actually a really great experience for me because I have never been to an art museum before. I was really touched by the great pieces of art that adorned the walls. They had Monet, Cassat, Picasso...to name a few of the most popular. I loved that I could get so close to them and see the texture of the paint. I could really see each individual brush stroke and the care that was put into each detail. I guess I found a new appreciation for art that I never knew I had before...

Personally, I have no artistic inclination whatsoever. When I do attempt to draw I can never produce much more than a stick person. A house is composed of a square with a triangle for a roof...if the house is lucky it will get a door and two windows...sometimes even curtains...
The point is, the work is one dimensional. It has no definition or character. The art in the museum, on the other hand, said so much to me. I could look at the picture and get a sense of what it felt like to be there. I could look at the person's face and get an idea about what it was like to be them in that moment. I have never had a picture that is drawn and essentially based on perception talk to me in such a deep way.
I have always seen art as a requirement to graduate middle school or some kind of sick project to make a distinction between who was creative and who wasn't. I never saw art as a way of expression, perception or even a way to vent.

It is now my opinion that everyone should go to an art museum at least once in their lives and really look at what is in front of you with an objectionable eye. The thing about art is that you cannot see it as face value. You have to look beyond and add your own assumptions and biases to it.
I understand now that art is not necessarily for the artist. Art is for us and strictly on an individiual level. No two people can look at a piece of art and get the same sense of reality from it.
Art is life.