A Taste of Art

I have always loved contemporary art. I do not really know how to explain it, which makes sense since genuine taste seems to rely on inherent emotions. If you are a dealer or collector more interested in the market values and investment opportunities in works of art, then I can see why your “taste” might be directed by something else.

 

Obviously I am still figuring out my taste in art. I am more drawn to the 20^th century than I am to the 17^th century. This is attributed to my lack of knowledge on the history. I have never taken a formal art history course. I do not think I can contextualize the images I see because I do not have the critical knowledge, nor am I bystander of that time. Contemporary art is so appealing to me because it is the now, and I am the now.

 

Contemporary art versus traditional art is not an appropriate way to narrowing down your taste. I need to see more and learn more. I know this. What I am wondering is how you find your taste from your collective knowledge? From all my summer readings I have tried to pick up a few key statements that allude to this mystery.

 

Some collectors use their emotions and intuitions to guide their likes and dislikes. My further inception to this question of finding ones taste, is how do you know what you are really feeling? This is probably requires more psychological reasoning than I can supply. When I look at art that I like, its great. I question though, at least for contemporary art, if I like two pieces what would make me want to buy one piece more than another? I know, emotions, but the answer does not satisfy me. I think there is a critical expertise associated with taste that is comprised of years of experience and theoretical knowledge. This might all seem obvious to everyone else, but I am looking to develop my taste. I need more than the advice, go with your gut because my gut just does not know what to go with yet.

 

Reading over this I sound pretty angsty. I need to take the classes, see all that I can, and my taste will hopefully come naturally. It seems that taste comes with time and education, I am not going to just wake up with it on a Sunday morning.

The Power of Doing Nothing

I have always been a multitasker. Reading and eating, watching tv and doing math homework, listening to music and drawing, etc. I feel it fulfills a constant urge to be doing something at all times. Once I finish one task, I am on the next without a break to stop and think. I mean its not all bad, I think there are times where the creativity of music lends itself to the hand movements in drawing, among others, but I know there are instances where the lack of full attention hinders the tasks individually. 

A couple things have made me think about this mantra of constantly doing things and never sitting still that I once prided myself on. Obviously I still value my adventurous spirit, but this summer I have been learning about the importance of reflection.  

These past weeks, I have come across Socrates’ bold statement, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” These words make sense to me. How am I supposed to understand anything if I do not take a moment to think about it? A couple weeks ago I was reading Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” and I kept feeling that I was missing something. Well, I had to realize that I am probably not going to understand any underlying meaning from just reading the words off the page. Although a simple thing to understand, I do not think I fully grasped the power of reflection until recently.

Wall Street Journal just published an article, “Why Is It So Hard For Us To Do Nothing?” It talks about how some people would rather receive an electric shock than sit around, do nothing, and in consequence, think. Its not just my generation, one that gets faulted with constant use of social media. Researchers said that the same dislike for doing nothing is found in older age groups. An article in the New York Times, “Reclaiming Our (Real) Lives From Social Media”  confronted a disadvantage to social media. These days, instead of waiting around contently and progressing through our thoughts, we are more likely to reach for our phones and check the latest instagram feed or twitter update. Although I do not have a twitter, I totally agree. I have often thought to myself, instead of thinking why am I scrolling through some page about vegan smoothies when I am not even vegan and do not even like smoothies. Both articles mentioned brilliant people like Sir Isaac Newton that came up with his gravitational laws by developing his ideas through time spent walking and doing nothing, and Ernest Hemingway that wrote the first chapter to his novel while waiting inside a cafe for the rain to stop. All of these readings have motivated me to spend more time doing nothing, and just thinking.

With an impending decision like declaring my major, this is the perfect time to spend more time thinking. Additionally, my internship in the arts is constantly throwing me into positions where I feel a surplus of creativity. I vow to think more, to understand my creativity and find something to do with it. 

Optimistically, I believe I have already started. This blog is my act of reflection. I have journaled in the past, but not very diligently and mostly about drama with boys and angst. These writings will be more about the thoughts that make me whole, and I will save the romance for my personal little black books.

Chocolate Milk & the beginning

There is too much going on inside my head. That’s why I started this blog, so that maybe I can calm down a little. I have always been restless. I like to be moving at all times. That’s probably why I am a runner, because it can cure me of my neuroses for a certain period of time. The paradox of this is that I am not a stressed out, anxiety ridden, frazzled young thing by any means. I am laid back, easy going, my friends describe me as mellow. Because when its inside, I find something to let it soothe out. I do.

This is all pretty cryptic but its my introduction into my inside inspirations and aspirations. I thought writing and documenting my thoughts will help me understand my intentions a little more.

A short background on the present: This is my post-freshman year of college summer and I am in the midst of a ten week internship at my Southern California private college’s art gallery. I love the LA contemporary art scene, especially in the early days during the 50s and 60s. This internship has made me rethink my future as a scientist and I am struggling with declaring my major. I cook my own food. Sometimes my fellow interns and I are treated to free food. I always take full advantage of these opportunities (less money I have to spend on groceries). On the weekends I like to make day trips to Pasadena and downtown areas of LA because its cheap. Usually I spend a couple hours in an independent book store, travel in and out of local shops, and treat myself to a $5 version of iced coffee. I do not know many people on campus, and I work forty hours a week. I spend most of my time by myself. I think thats important.

Oh, and chocolate milk. Why? This blog is intended for things I like, things I am thinking. I really like chocolate milk, and I am always thinking about it. Makes sense to me.