For some of us, we see nothing more than a collection of colors splattered across a blank canvas. For others, we see a beautiful depiction of human existence and what it means to be a conscious being. How is it possible that two completely different view points can be achieved by the same piece? It is art that makes it possible, and it is beautiful. Yet, how can any of us stop and appreciate these beautiful works when we are constantly consumed with thoughts of checking our Instagram feed or loading SnapChats? In a world of technology, we have lost the appreciation for art, and it is through this that art has become our biggest flaw.

If you have been to the Art Institute of Chicago, you have certainly seen a fair share of different artistic representations. From paintings to sculptures, the Art Institute does a fantastic job of capturing different forms of art and displaying the work of so many talented professionals. Still, for those of us who may not be “artsy” people naturally, we may find ourselves asking what these pieces do for us. We question what the significance of the Mona Lisa is, and why everyone seems to find Picasso’s peculiar designs to be phenomenal. The truth is, everyone views art differently because it sends a specific message to each individual person. Regardless of who you are or what your background is, no two people view art exactly the same. That being said, when does a group of teenagers stop and make the time to go to an art museum and appreciate the time and energy put into these works? Hardly ever, and I would be lying if I said I was not one of them. Through the growth of social media, we have lost our appreciation of the “natural” world, and if this continues, does that mean that natural art forms will never again be appreciated?

I can still remember a painting my grandmother has in her condo in Naples, Florida, of a beautiful palm tree on a beach. It has been there since before I could formulate real words, and if I’m being honest, I have not once stopped to truly admire the work of art. So how is it that I am able to remember something that I never taken the time to analyze over my 19 years of going there? The conclusion that I have come to is that that picture struck me in such a powerful way, I have had a hard time getting it out of my memory ever since. One could say that it’s just a simple painting of a tree on some sand, and ask what the big deal is. Yet to me, it is so much more than that. It represents a relaxing environment and provides me with a sense of wonderment. I can ask questions about that piece: what’s around the corner of that tree? Is the island abandoned? Why is it that there’s only one tree instead of hundreds? Beyond that, I feel like the piece is familiar, like I have been there before or one day, will have the pleasure of traveling there. Think for a moment, has this happened to you? Is there a piece of art work: painting, sculpture, musical piece, that stuck with you after viewing it? If the answer is yes, take a moment to dissect why. Appreciate that piece of work by putting your phone down and giving some thought to the meaning behind it. Sure, maybe friends won’t understand why you find it so endearing, but that is how art works. There is no right answer or basic understanding, it is all up to interpretation.

It is my belief that many of us view art in a limited way. We see it as drawing, painting, and sculpting, but we hardly ever take the time to acknowledge that there is a very special kind of art beyond those three things- music. Music is perhaps the most significant type of art there is because it not only causes you to feel emotions that you may have never experienced before, but it also allows a surplus of people to appreciate that piece in a variety of ways. Think about it, how many times have you played a certain song or type of music with your friends and they’ve made the sly remark, “I don’t like country music, do you have anything else?” or, “This song makes me sad, would you mind changing it?” It’s comments like these that help us to see how music affects people so deeply, and quite frankly, I don’t think musicians get enough credit for what they bring to the world. Now of course, one who feels a closer connection to physical art may disagree. Regardless, it stands to reason that art is often under appreciated by many. Not only because people don’t take the time to realize how drastically different their lives would be with out it, but also because we have become far too consumed in our gadgets and gizmos that we have forgotten about the real world.

So do me a favor. Go to an art museum, open your mind to listening to a different type of music, take up poetry. It may be stepping out of your comfort zone, but our biggest flaw lies in not acknowledging that all of these things are part of who we are, and they are always around us. Maybe writing that song about your dream to make millions or painting that picture of your country home will change your life. Who knows, you may realize that not everything beautiful has to be a Facebook profile picture or that Instagram of Chicago’s skyline.