Art: A Cry of Anguish or an Act of Love?

As we continue with our Creative theme, this week we’re exploring art and all of the benefits it can bring, whether we’re creating art or experiencing it. 
 
Feelings can be messy and sometimes irrational. Your “rational” self may tell you there is no evidence to support the way you feel, but still, you can’t deny that you feel it! Sometimes, we try to suppress uncomfortable feelings in order to avoid dealing with them. One way to release or let go of these feelings is through art. It’s a healthy way to express your feelings while staying balanced and in control. 
 
Vincent Van Gogh thought of his paintings as “a cry of anguish.” He lived with a mental illness and was in and out of psychiatric hospitals throughout his life. He lived with suicide ideation for the last few years and ultimately ended his own life. His long-distance caregiver was his brother, and their communication method was long, loving letters. Reading into the challenges Van Gogh faced in his lifetime, including the stigma of mental illness, it reminds me of our loved ones and their many trials, as well as their caregivers.
 
On the other hand, Chuck Klosterman said, “Art and love are the same thing: It’s the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you.” Here’s an article on ways art can improve mental health.

Through art, we can communicate something that may be difficult to put into words, make others aware of our hidden feelings, gain new insight and understanding of our feelings, and even validate our feelings.
 
Art benefits both the one who creates it and the one who experiences it. I think it happens to all of us when we see, hear, or otherwise experience a powerful work of art. Some art just “speaks” to us in a certain way that can have a profound effect on our feelings. It stirs our emotions and compels us to react in ways that we couldn’t foresee. Different styles of art create different responses in different people, and no response is wrong. 
 
So, go out and find a piece of art you love, and experience the full range of feelings and emotions that come with it. I’d love to know what art speaks loudest to YOU.