When I think of the value of art (and I’m talking all of it – painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, poetry, music, and whatever else I may have left out), I get hung up on this problem – some of it is created and appreciated simply because it is beautiful.

Yes, some art has political or social significance. It can definitely open our eyes to different experiences,  cultures and points of view. It can make us question our assumptions, our reality, and our core beliefs. It can be a catalyst for change (Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Silent Spring, to name a couple).

But sometimes, it’s just pretty. Maybe we like the colors, or it sets a certain mood. It brightens up the living room, or creates a relaxing atmosphere in the bedroom. But it doesn’t make us question why the living room needs brightening or what if we didn’t even have a bed to sleep on? But if providing beauty is it’s only function – is it somehow less important than art that is political, philosophical or confrontational?

What is the value of beauty?

We can all argue that beauty is only skin deep, but let’s face it:  if you’re at a party and you have a choice between hanging out with someone who’s gorgeous or a person who’s not much to look at, who are you going to be drawn to, assuming you know nothing about either one beyond what you can see? Beauty is an attractive force.

I’ve also heard it said that life can be short, brutal, and ugly. If nothing else, it can be kind of boring in the day to day. Beauty can lift us out of the mundane or the misery, if only for a few moments when we catch the fragrance of lilacs in the breeze, run our fingers across silk fabric, see a handsome man walk the beach, or admire a still life painting.

Still life is a good example – here’s an ordinary table. Here is some common fruit in a bowl, along with a bottle of wine, maybe. Add a colorful napkin or table cloth. Show it off against a bare, humble wall. It could be anywhere. But it’s here in this moment. Its everyday-ness becomes breathtakingly beautiful.

Beauty can be a symbol of the undeserved miracle of life. The wonder of creation. It makes us pause and take notice.

Maybe that’s all it is good for. But what would our lives be without it? Hence, where would we be without art? Art is a way to comment, improve upon, notice, celebrate, and transcend our lives as human beings on this planet. It’s a mode of transportation. Dare I say? — It’s a conversation with God.

If art isn’t important, if it isn’t vital to our human existence, then a lot of what I do is a complete waste of time – writing, singing, making and listening to music, sewing, doodling.  Yet often, it is in the act of creating that I feel most alive. When I see the results of others’ creativity, whether it be a poem, sculpture, painting, or song – I feel connected to them. I feel that connection whether they’re expressing a political opinion, a statement about our society, or simply because its beauty tells me that life in this world can be beautiful.