"Art is pointless
You have to go out
Get an actual job
And make a living
You can't just let
The rest of your life
Be a joke, a failure
You will end up
A starving artist
Contribute to society
Instead of wasting time
You're worthless."
If you are anything like me, I think that it is safe to say that some, if not all, of the words above have either been spoken to you at one point in time or you’ve said them to yourself. If that is the case, and I am correct, I’m sure you feel a little mad at the world or maybe even mad at yourself.
What is art? To some, art may be a photograph or a painting, to others, a book. Art can be the sound that rain makes as it hits a copper roof, a sound so simple, yet still, a sound that has inspired notes written into thousands of stanzas. Art can be language, it can be an aroma, it can be the passion in a man's voice as he revels in the joy that is his business. Art has no gender; it has no prejudice. It has no limits. To me, art in it’s simplest form can be anything that evokes a powerful emotion. I consider writing to be a valuable piece of art, and the above statements seem to prove just that.
The quote leading into these jumble of words that are my thoughts belongs to a student from the University of Texas at Austin, Jasmine Kay Uy. Made out of vinyl, this student marked her words on a pillar that was placed in the stairwell of the UT Austin Art Building. It was set up for two weeks as a part of a Digital Foundations course, specifically meant to be seen by the art students.
To anyone who has been told what they want out of life isn't important, special, or life-changing, this is for you. As students walked into the building, the first words were seen. However, the second they turned the corner, the sculpture had an entirely new meaning.
And you can. You can change the world. No matter what your identity, no matter what your career, your major, your lifestyle. No matter who you are, you have the ability to make an impression, all while doing what you love and by being yourself. Sounds pretty cheesy, right? Well, it is. But life is short, and if you spend it living in order to meet the expectations of anyone but yourself, you are wasting it.
You can have whatever you desire in this life, the only thing keeping you from attaining it, is you. Do not confine yourself to the thinking of others, do not let what has happened in the past create the vision you have of your future. Look beyond what you think you can achieve, and become an artist who creates their own destiny. Success will follow.
Take life in strides.
