The first thing I noticed was all of the artwork that lined the walls. endless Paintings, sketches, and photographs covered every inch of space on those walls. It had all been done by the students. there were certain aspects that captured natural beauty, and some that defied logic. all were unique in their own way because they truly defined the Artist's personality. As we began to tour through a few select classes, it was difficult not to acknowledge the amount of passion the teachers had for their profession. It was inspirational, seeing people work in something they truly love. Everything in those classes told a story, from the the people who took them, and the art they created.
After getting a real idea of what it was like to take a more challenging art class, we then continued to the main focus of our trip: the Nerman Museum. As our bus pulled up to the building, I took in the scene before me. The Museum itself was a sleek white building with large windows that flooded the rooms with light. Walking up the path, we came across a towering figure. It was a sculpture titled "The Companion". He was sculpted are a dark metal, his posture hunched over and hidden. His hands covered his face. I got an overwhelming sense that its playful spin on a childhood classic was meant to be the truth of the world that nothing is a simple and cheerful as we'd like them to be. Kaws, the artist, surely understood this, because in almost all of his artwork, it is a haunting piece of something many of us once remembered from being children.
After Taking a picture with the "Companion" we walked up to the main doors of the Museum. Before we could even walk through the doors, we were stopped by yet another Piece of artwork. Above us were rows and rows of glittering white lights that flickered in set patterns. They illuminated every inch of the ceiling. I couldn't help but imagine how much more spectacular it would be at night.
Eventually we had to continue into the building, where our tour actually began. We divided into three groups, each setting off into different directions of the modern looking rooms. My group continued to look at Kaws designs. It was an incredible story that we learned, of Kaws making a name for himself as an artist. He originated in New York City as a graffiti artist. His art wasn't just pretty, it was a story.
We then progressed into the next room. The odd thing that I first noticed, was that it was dark in the room. The Tour Guide walked forward anyway. She introduced the artist as Dylan Mortimer. Many of us were still perplexed, until she told a few of us to walk up closely to the paintings on the wall. We skeptically walked forward until we were almost touching it, when suddenly, the entire thing lit up. Brilliant colors illuminate the darkness. Others in the group quickly rush to the other two paintings to light them up as well. Soon the room was much brighter than it even would have ben with actual lights installed in the ceilings. The paintings were Halos, meant to say that anyone could be an angel or saint.
After we left the room, we were told to explore on our own. A few of us wandered into the room beside the Kaws room. Though I never checked to see who had created those masterpieces, I was blown away by both their complexity and elegant simplicity that so many of the pictures contained. The Paintings mirrored similarities of pictures more than they did paintings. Others were made in such brilliant pastels, it was difficult to believe that they were made to depict death.
Each and every one of these paintings were incredible just to look at. What made it even more remarkable was to think about how these unique artists came into this community to make a name for themselves. They too were once just students with a dream, with a passion. They persevered and made their goals attainable. Its a valuable lesson to be learned; noting is unreachable. You are in charge of how far you will make it in this world. it is not solely relying on chance. it is how far you are willing to push yourself to make what you want happen. Nothing that is worth it in life can just be handed to you. Being passive in anything that you do will never lead you to greatness. These are people who have lead their lives by that principle. They didn't become professionals by sitting back and waiting for success to come to them. They made themselves great by working hard and taking their futures into their own hands.
Maybe that was reading into too much on such a simple trip to an art museum, but I feel like That is one of the more important things that I took away from it. Seeing success in everyday life is a great way to be inspired in my own goals. People with simple pasts are capable of becoming something they've always dreamed of.
