The Whole Ball of Wax

          In his article, The Whole Ball of Wax, Jerry Saltz discusses how art has the ability to change the world and how important it is to realize its full potential. Even though I generally agree with Saltz's article, one point that I strongly agree with is that, "Art is an energy source that helps make change possible..." (1). Just like any other subject in school, art has the power to teach people about history, the future, emotions and so much more. You just have to know and try to understand the deeper meaning of the art, not just the meaning that appears on the surface. 

          I believe that people often overlook or misinterpret art because all they see is the surface: the colors, the textures, and the shapes. Saltz brings up the point, "...when we look at art, we're not only looking at it; we're also looking into and through it, into and through the paint, pigment, canvas, or whatever to something else." (2). The image or object that is on the canvas or paper represents something so much more than the still frame. It represents the ideas flowing through the artist's mind, the time it took for the artist to create it, and the society around them at the time. Like Saltz says, "it [art] exists within a holistic system": it represents a whole not just a part (2). I find it very intriguing that one piece of art can distract or change a person because it can represent so much more than what is right in front of them. 

          This article gave me a new respect for the potential that art can have. In life and specifically in this class, I will work towards understanding the background and deeper meaning of art that is in front of me. The one question I have is, how do we go about trying to understand that deeper meaning in a piece of artwork? Should we look up the history behind it or just take our time with the piece in order to absorb ever piece of it and try to understand the deeper meaning?