“Art is the only way to run away without
leaving home.” This quote by Twyla Tharp speaks for itself, but also describes
how I felt while inside the gallery. When looking at one’s artwork, you’re
pulled into it. Experiencing beautiful artwork enables one to step outside of
the box, and think about other things. Just like one may use music to take them
to another place, art can be used in the same way. The artwork in the gallery
enabled me to run away from where I was currently at into another world, preferably
the mind of the artist. Beautiful art grasps one’s soul, to the point where
they’re entered into the artist’s mind, embracing everything put into the
picture. When you run away from something, you leave it; sometimes with no
intentions on returning. The pictures that caught my attention the most took me
on a journey that I didn’t want to return from.
“Redrum” by Kaila Bacon was perhaps my
favorite picture in the gallery. It was the most intense, and just by glancing
at it, you get so many feelings. To be more specific, it’s a painting of a
dilapidated home. It gives one a scary feeling, a curious feeling. “What
happened there, who stayed there?” These are questions that only the artist can
answer. Also, the title gives off a lot about the picture. For example,
“Redrum” is “Murder” spelled backwards. The title of any piece of art tells its
own story. So, when I looked at it I wondered if this could have been a house
where a murder was committed. I was attracted to this painting because of the
mystery, and I had many questions about it. I like everything about the
painting, mainly the detail of the house. Granted, it looks like a house where
a brutal murder was committed, so maybe that’s where the title came from. The
suspense of this painting makes it all the more intriguing, and gives one the
desire to stare until their imagination is satisfied.
The
next portrait in the gallery that caught my attention was titled “Don’t Enter”
by Charde’ laRoche. Even though this picture caught my attention, it wasn’t one
of my favorites. Reason being, it gave off a dark and mysterious tone. As an
illustration, there was a green undertone used for the picture, with a young
woman standing in front of a door, with a lock on it. Our main character, the
young woman has an intense stare on her face, one almost daring anyone to enter
this building she’s guarding so securely. Even though this woman looks so
dangerous, she’s actually beautiful, and has tattoos on her arms. Aside from
this being a beautiful and detailed picture, it has many questions to be
answered, and gives off no hints. As a person who loves to analyze, I was
disappointed with the fact that I had no answers to my questions. I don’t
understand what this woman had to hide behind the door, and how this could
relate to society.
Love at first sight, this is what I felt when I looked at
“Mini Jax” by John Shippee. It’s a picture of Downtown Jacksonville, on perhaps
a regular afternoon. As a citizen of Jacksonville, Florida I personally love
our downtown area. I love everything about this picture, from the title to the
picture itself. I love the peaceful look Jacksonville has, but it still stands
out as a beautiful city. Furthermore, the title adds on an emphasis to
Jacksonville. It makes it as if downtown is Jacksonville itself. Honestly, I
can second that, and say that downtown Jacksonville really is a “Mini Jax”.
It’s where all of the shows are, all the biggest events, even where our own
President Obama has been. Downtown Jacksonville is great, and it does a lot to
add definition to Jacksonville. This picture was one of the greatest, and also
won First Prize. It very well deserved it, because it was first prize in my
book also.
Art really does take you to another place, a place far
away from where you currently are, it takes you to a place where you are
comfortable. Each picture that caught most of my attention in the gallery took
me to another place. “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.”
This quote proves true, and it’s such a wonderful place where art enables you
to run away to.
