Reflection on "The Whole Ball of Wax" By: Jerry Saltz

The word art has just as many definitions as it does people trying to define it.  After reading "The Whole Ball of Wax" my original view of art started to expand and become more receptive to the infinite possibilities art has the potential to be.  Prior to reading this article I oftentimes took art just for the way the artist had presented it.  In order for the viewer to gain a deeper perspective on the art they are engaged with they must use not only their own experiences, but think about the world around them and how that impacts the art they perceive.  The world or "Ball of Wax" constantly moulds and forms to the ever-changing events happening all around us.  The artists job is to channel those experiences and encounters they have with the world and use them as a catalyst to express their art.

Art encapsulates the essential practices for a viewer to gain a deeper understanding not only about the world around them but most importantly themselves.  The wax is a metaphor for the world's malleability and how everything that happiness has a lasting impact which creates an endless current on people.  I really enjoyed the authors cat metaphors for art.  Art does not need to give you a satisfying response.  Art does not even warrant a response.  It is up to the viewer to decode and interpret whatever the artist has presented to them.




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