An ad caught my eye recently, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It showed an art collection splashed across the sides of city buses—paintings by Sargent, Picasso and Warhol and a photograph by Walker Evans. (Who expects to see great works of art on public transportation?)
What held my attention was the quote that accompanied the collection, from actress and writer Kristen Wiig. For the new ad campaign, the Met asked celebrities to choose their favorite works of art and tell what the museum means to them. I love what Kristen Wiig said: “Art is proof that anything is possible.”
She so perfectly expresses why I think looking at art is such a wonderful way of staying positive. I’d even argue that art appreciation is a form of positive thinking. It’s a reminder that there are no limits to the imagination, to where our minds can take us.
And by art, I don’t mean only what’s displayed in museums. There are works of art all around us, all over the web. Here are just a few examples I’ve come across lately, each inspiring in its in own way:
Hand-painted walls by Ava Roth
My jaw dropped when I saw this on Design*Sponge. Ava Roth painted the walls of her dining room freehand, bit by bit, over the course of a year, turning it into a wooded wonderland. This is my favorite section because of the wolf; click through above to see the whole room.
“Meet me in the sunshine” by Dominique Falla
Dominique Falla, an artist based in Australia, has a whole series of these works, which she calls “tactile typography.” Created with the simplest materials—nails and string—and infinite patience.
“Dark Side of the Lens” by Mickey Smith
This video from surf photographer/filmmaker and self-described “Cornish gypsy” Mickey Smith is mesmerizing. I think it has the feeling of a prayer—awestruck and grateful.
