The Arts in NYC

2

Art or Not?

I used to LOVE drawing, in fact, I used to be quite good at it. But then high school happened. Just weeks after entering high school, I had to give up most of my hobbies and interests because there was no  time for them at all.

I used to love drawing so much that I even wanted to be an artist, although my dad firmly said no. "An artist?!?! Tsk..." He would say, "you earn money and become famous only after they put you in your grave!" I couldn't disagree with that, and it's not like I was that good at my works. But still, I found it ironic how he would get so upset whenever I used to talk about my artistic future, since he is actually really good at technical drawing.

Anyway, I remember how I used to be pretty good at my drawings. In fact, I still remember how my little 5th grade drawings used to be posted up all over my elementary school; I even won an art award in my 5th grade graduation.

I was never interested in paintings or sculptures though; I was more of a "still-life" person. I remember working with my art teacher after school to perfect my shading and line techniques...I miss that. But now I hate art; art is a boring subject to me. I am more of a science person. Talk to me about dissections and you will get my attention; but art? No.

And then came the Chelsea Art Galleries trip. Was I interested at all? Of course not! Why would I want to waste a perfectly good (although it actually wasn't a good day) saturday to go to, *scoff*, art galleries!??! But, of course, I did go, and the day didn't start well at all.

First, it was pouring rain!! My umbella didn't even do anything to keep me dry. And then the trains were running local and were SUPER late! And then, I broke my umbella, and then I broke Philip's umbella, all while my shoes were filling up with water! And I remember how we couldn't find the art galleries and went into the wrong one at first. And when we did arrive, I was already soaking wet and everyone was just sitting down on this big white couch in the middle of this gallery. The paintings on the wall? Not interested!

And so the whole class wandered through numerous art galleries, and I was bored all the wawy through, until...We came into this art gallery where there were corpse-like, deformed figures all over the place. I was INTRIGUED! This is not art, I thought, this is more like a horror/freak show!! (which is why I liked the exhibit in the first place...because I LOVE horror films!!) I was so interested that I even stay a few minutes after the class left to read up on the artist, and I am glad I did because I found out what inspired this artist in the first place: his dad was a butcher!!

The day actually got MUCH better right after that. The next exhibit that we went to had this tunnel-like structure made out of panty-hose materials. Again, though, I couldn't understand why anyone would think that was art. But I didn't care to analyse because I was so absorbed into all of those interesting works around me. Next, I went into this "hall of mirror"-like area with a disco ball on top to make the palce even more confusing...I was having fun!

And then, I arrived at my FAVORITE exhibit: the one with the little secret room. I still remember how Sahill first got out attentions by saying, "Oh my god, this dude is giving birth!" What the hell is he talking about? I though. Confused, I went through the little door and arrived at this whole different world! IT WAS AMAZING!! There were haystacks all over the place (and smelled like hay too), and the most interesting of all? This HUGE TV screen with some freaking clip playing on it. It was so weird that I still can't really describe it. There was this person with a white substance all over him/her and he/she seemed like he (I will just call the person a "he" because it's annoying to have to say "he/she" all the time) was in extreme pain because he was screaming. And then there was this person in a white puffy suit that looked like white poop. And I think they were both lying in a barn or something. Anyway, I was so absorbed that I couldn't stop staring at the screen.  I kept on creating a story to explain the point of the story in my head...it was really intriguing. And then I came out and saw this cut-up piano on two sides of a bed and this painting that reminds people of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The whole exhitbit was like a horror museum, it was very cool.

By the end of the day, I was satisfied, and glad that I went on this trip all along. I was still wondering about the exact definition of ar, however. I soon realized though, that art can be anything to a person, as long as that person can get something out of it (no matter if it's some kind of knowledge, emotion, or inspiration). The definition of art, therefore, is different for every person because, after all the cliche is true--everyone is unique.

-- ELAINE LI