I Guess that You Saw What Nobody Could See

Would you believe my New Years Resolution was to update this darling little thing more often?
Well.
It wasn't.
hahahha

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Today, we went to the Reflections district-level award ceremony for the competition I entered The Justice Leauge piece into. If you didn't know, I really...really...am not pleased with it.
At all.

Reflections was held at Nancy Young, my old elementary school (just across the street), which is always a fun, special treat. I love Nancy Young and always light up to walk down its tiny halls and check out all the new paintings and additions.

Walking around and looking at all the other entries (about 90% were younger than fifth grade, by the way) was also fun, especially when we got to see the work of people we know. It was hard to walk past mine, since I hate it so much. In fact, one time I just stood there, ripping it apart to Dad, but stopped mid-sentance when a boy less than half my height stepped between me and the art, pointed up at it, and said, "Mommy, come look at this cool one with all the Superheroes!"

Several times that night, I stood at a reasonable creeper distance, watching as children of all ages came to the artpiece...the littlest one who only recognized Superman to the oldest who liked to see how many of the Justice Leauge they could name. They all smiled at it, pointed at it, giggled at it; no one noticed how shopped Wonder Woman looks, or how desaturated the Black Canary became. Nobody pointed out that Aquaman and Flash Gordan should technically be in the water with the way their torsos cut off, or that each of Vixen's body parts were different hues.

They just noticed that it was a fun, light-hearted piece. Something they could chuckle at with the idea, something that could entertain them. I saw, in those passerbies, something in their eyes that I wasn't quite able to write about in my artist's statement. These superheroes are more than a symbol of America- they're a symbol of childhood, innocence, and freedom. For fleeting moments, I saw adults light up like children, and I saw children light up like Christmas. Because they were looking at something I created.

Sitting here, it's hard to remember how much I hated that picture. Still do, you know...to me, I would feel a lot, LOT better about it if I had done it the way I ranted about in that entry. But I've seen first-hand what even disappointing art can do to a viewer, when the idea and heart are there. That emotional response we talk about in AP Art History isn't only for the masters. It isn't only for pieces of art that move on to regional competitions (which mine, by the way, didn't). It's for everyone.

Those children, pulling their mothers and siblings to look and see their personal and fantastical heroes, gave me more of an insight into the power of art than most experiances I've had so far. And I've had a few. ;) Perhaps it's only because of the subject matter (superheroes are always a popular choice), but even then- that's what the art usually revolves around...you'll be hard pressed to find a blank canvas that draws mass attention BEFORE it enters the museums), but I believe that, had just a bland picture of the Justice Leauge been sitting in my picture's place, it wouldn't have gotten as much attention.

I'm glad my silly little picture got into reflections. And you know what, I'm glad it sucked, too. Because now I have so much more appreciation for what I'm getting myself into...with great power comes great responsibility.

"You Found Me" was made famous by Kelly Clarkson