Have you ever seen a painting, heard a piece of music, watched a film, read a novel or poem that deeply moved you? Or clearly articulated your inner experience? Or given language to something that was previously inexplicable? You probably have, if you’re human. Art can give dignity and meaning to our human experience in profound ways.

“We all fear death and question our place in the universe. The artist’s job is not to succumb to despair, but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence.“ ~ Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein in Midnight In Paris. I was literally thinking about this idea when I saw these munched up crayons, ironically, in a bookstore parking lot. It felt like a metaphor to me, an artist succumbing to despair. It was more likely a mom cleaning out the family van. But I couldn’t help but take notice. That’s definitely a tall order for any artist to fill. (I don’t know if Gertrude actually said those words, but I think she could’ve). I can say this: I think my own creative process has saved me over and over from despair. Creating things with my hands, my imagination, my soul has allowed me to sort through my inner experience like nothing else can. If I distill this quote down to a personal level, I can see how true it is in the actual making of art for the individual. Whether or not a finished work actually provides an antidote, who could say, though I think it’s important to notice where we laugh, cry, and feel disturbed when encountering good art.