Why Art?

     Imagine a world without art.  Not just a world without paintings and sculptures in nice museums or on the wall over your sofa, but a world completely without art.  What would that world look like?  If you've ever bought a product at the grocery store that is a generic, no-name product, you have seen an example of a world without art.  It is a blank white package with some plain black printing on the label.  That's it.  No color, no pictures, no fancy lettering.  Pretty boring. 

     Many people take art for granted.  They don't really look to see the art that is all around them.  They think of art as that stuff in the nice museum or, again, over the sofa.  But it is so much more.  Every time you sit down at breakfast and read the back of the cereal box, you're looking at art.  If you are reading the newspaper, looking at a photo of the game last night, you're looking at art.  Those stylish clothes you like to wear? Art.  Jewelry?  Art.  The house you live in, the car you drive, all art.  Send a greeting card and you are sending art.  All of these things and more are affected by art in one way or another.  A certain type of artist has designed what you see on the cereal box, and most other packaging for that matter.  Another type of artist, (a photographer), has taken the picture in the newspaper.  Artists have designed not only the fabric that your clothes are made from but the clothes themselves.  Others have designed the jewelry, the house and just about every building you see and even the car you drive.  Sure, gas mileage and dependability are important in a car but don't you really look at the styling first? 

     The world around you looks the way it does largely because of artists.  So if anyone ever tries to tell you that art is not important, imagine a world without art.