The Whole Ball of Wax Reaction

The article written by Jerry Salz brings up many interesting points and several conflicting views of various individuals. From the start of the reading, I resonated with the ideas of art's transformative powers and the emphasis on the experience of art. I was reminded of my time spent at the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany. The article notes how art does not have the power to stop global warming or halt Holocaust deniers, but I believe that art does have the ability to educate, and this is one of the most powerful mechanisms to start change. The Jewish Museum in Berlin holds some of the most powerful artwork relating to the Holocaust and the experience of Europeans during the 1900's. What is so powerful about this museum and its pieces, is the exposure it presents to all of its visitors. 

When present there, its impossible to deny the struggles faced by millions. So, this artwork does in a way, offer change. It offers the hope that individuals will never engage in such a terrible movement in our present and our future. 


Another important aspect that Salz noted at, was the fact that art is an all encompassing term. It stretches from literature to architecture and reaches many categories in between. Salz mentions the importance of art in creating new thought structures. This reinforces my belief that art is defined by one's own experience. If something makes you reconsider your initial views or opinions, it may be considered art by some. 

Furthering my views about engagement and experience with art, when Salz listed the examples of how art can't necessarily change things, such as global warming, I was reminded of an exhibition at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery from 2015. This is Maya Lin's marble sculpture of the Chesapeake Bay. I was reminded of this when Salz mentioned art, on its own, changing global warming. While I do agree that art individually cannot prevent global climate change, I do think that art's affect on one individual at a time, provides a good amount of community education. I am not even sure that Maya Lin created her piece intending to make individuals think about global climate change, but I did, and that is why we must continue to value individual experience and engagement in all forms of art. 

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