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Going to museums really makes you realize anyone can make something great. It just takes practice, passion, and dedication. It also makes you realize that “greatness” is subjective. The vast variety of artwork not only by time period, but also styles and mediums, affirms that art is subjective. There’s space for everyone and every creation, but that doesn’t mean everyone is going to love the same things you do.
I visited the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the architecture of the building is a work of art in and of itself. It’s so big and grand, you end up feeling like an ant instead of a person. The feeling inside is very still as if in anticipation for the great works of art you’re about to see. It’s exciting being in a space that prioritizes artwork.
As an artist myself, I can confirm that we are our own worst critics. We think that we cannot achieve greatness, that we do not have the skill to do so. It looks easy to make or even poorly made. But observing the artwork gathered from so many years, and from different people all over the world, makes you realize you can make something great. Some of the pieces in museums make you question why it’s there. It’s hard to not feel envious that something you deem lesser than is in a place as grand and of high status as a museum. But if you take a step back from those strong feelings, you see that you have been too critical to yourself and the artist you’re observing. You see that greatness is in the eye of the beholder, and you realize if you don’t find your own artwork great no one will fight to find greatness in it.
So, even though you might not be able to visit Milwaukee’s art museum, you can find these same attributes at any museum. Some closer to us include the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Weisman Art Museum, and the Cafesjian Art Trust.
