The Age of Art

In my last intro to literature class, we went to the Polk Museum of Art. I have been to one museum before this one. In fact, my junior year of high school, our chorus department was chosen to sing in Carnegie Hall. Since we had a chance to go to New York City, we did everything. For that one week, every night was an adventure. We saw Broadway productions, experienced Time Square, visited all the major New York City sights, and went to the Metropolitan museum of Art. I remember this day so well, it during the end of are trip. Everyone was exhausted. To get to the museum, we had to cross Central Park and I remember it not being like it was in ‘Hey Arnold’. All the drama beside, I loved the museum.

Going to this museum, I wasn’t expecting much. But the museum triggered something within me. There was a part in the museum that was dedicated to children’s art. I walked in at first thoroughly confused as to why the art work looked so childish. After someone explained it to me, I opened my mind, and try to understand there art. I was gazing around through the different drawings, sculpting, and sketches and I found myself amazed. One of the pictures was a drawing of inner city Japan. The detail in the picture blew my mind; it looked as if the drawing was an actual picture. It even had Japanese lettering on the signs, building and billboards. The shadowing was perfect against the star filed moonlit back drop. But what blew my mind the most, was that the artist was SIX-YEARL-OLD.

I stared at that picture for a long time. Just thinking, pondering, I couldn’t get past the age of the artist. This child was in 1st grade at least and had already accomplished painting a masterpiece!

This painting taught me numerous things. First, never underestimate a child. What was I thinking? What happens to adults and young adults alike that causes us to treat child like mind inferior? I remember hating whenever someone underestimated me because I was young and I still do. In Today’s world especially, kids are de-sensitized to numerous things; we shouldn’t assume children are too young for anything. Second, it showed me how important children are. We are raising future America. I believe not many people take this fact into consideration. Next, every child should be able to express there opinion in some way. Let your child be heard and loved, I am sure that little six year old was heard, load and clear.