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 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 musuem 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're 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.  Another type of artist 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 is important and so is dependability, but don't you look at the styling of the car first? The world around you looks the way is does largely because of artists.  So if anyone ever tries to tell you that art is not important, imagine a world without art.