When I was teaching drawing back in California in the 80s and 90s, I would often take my students on a field trip to San Francisco to see the museums there.


Without exception I always had one statement spoken by a student or two during these trips.  Often it would be while looking at an abstract painting, or an art piece that wasn’t ‘pretty’.  


The statement was this:  “I wouldn’t put that in my house.”


It didn’t take long for me to come up with the perfect response.  It was this:  “That painting is worth $750,000.00.  It won’t EVER be in your house.”  I would continue, “You wouldn’t go to a ballet and make that statement about a ballerina.  You wouldn’t because you know that the ballerina is to be admired in that moment of dance you are witnessing, not to be taken home forever.  The same is true of art you see out in the world.  It is for you to admire and explore now, in this moment. It isn’t for you to take home and have over your sofa.  Judging it by whether you want it in your home or not is distracting you from enjoying it in the moment.” *


I feel the same way about many things others are quick to judge as if they are permanently attached to them and have to be declared unfit to be so, for whatever reason.  


For example,  I like people who walk by me with too much perfume on.  I am not taking them home and living with their perfume. They are passing by and that fragrance will be gone momentarily.  


I like people with: 

They are living art, music, dance, sculpture and multimedia extravaganzas in my world even if they don’t know it. I am not taking them home.  I am just admiring the passing parade.


* Now, of course I do know there is art for purchase and it is to take home and in that case it’s right and proper to judge whether you can live with it or not.


Drawing, photos (except ‘tan’) and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily


Quote by Elbert Hubbard, 1856-1915, American artist and writer.  Proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement.