Art as a Social Practice

When art becomes a social practice, individual stories can intertwine and collaborate with those around us. The interaction between the reader and the author sparks emotional engagement, allowing the reader to feel like he is experiencing the story along with the author. Some stories may be very similar, stirring emotions like comfort, common ground, and understanding. Others may be quite different, but will bring out emotional engagement through the new perspectives it offers. Different cultures, religions, race, and backgrounds all play a part of what makes up an individual’s story, but we are connected by these distinctions. If I give my mug to someone I see in a grocery store, they may have a completely different story to tell than I do. Although, we share the fact that we both shop at the same grocery store and, if only for a moment, our lives crossed paths. This is what makes the collaboration so meaningful. If someone receives a mug we make in English 1030, they are in some way connected back to the stories each of will create. All of our unique stories connect, impact, and contribute to something larger. Both professional and non-professional artists play a role in this creation, which further shows diversity of life. While professional artists might express their story in a way that non-professional artists cannot, both stories portray something personal and significant about themselves. A non-professional artist can tell their story through simple designs, which may even stick out more certain people. I see the work itself impacting the community in a positive way. It should help the community realize that the people you see standing behind you in line at the grocery store, walking to class, or stopped beside you at a red light each have have a unique story that intertwine with ours.