Birth of the Cool

I grew up in Houston. I lived very near downtown and as a young teen, I would drive all over the "cultured" center of Houston looking for inspiration in music, art, film, etc... I discovered many things at a young age because I was so close to this whole alternative and eye-opening atmosphere. Houston gets such a bad rap but if you live inside the loop, it has a lot to offer.

I remember going to the art museums and being blown away by the art. I used to get so inspired to create myself. Years later, I am now a graphic designer where I am paid to be creative. It's a dream job, one that I've always wanted and worked hard to get. I don't go to museums as often as I used to when I was younger, but last night I went to the Blanton here in Austin which is a new art museum on the UT campus.

I djed a party there in Oct 2008 and thought it was cool. I love 20th century art, but modernism is probably my favorite of all the movements. I love the minimalism, the sleekness, the streamlining of form and shape and the lack of frills and ornamentation. It really speaks to me in a very deep sense. At the same time, I still find a part of me that is moved by abstract expressionism.

Being in the presence of this exhibit brought back that deep-seeded element in my soul that loves art and design. I mean I love it with capital letters. I feel an unexplainable peace, love, passion and energy when I am in the presence of such mastery of color, form and design.

It made me feel like a 16 year old again. I can only imagine that this is what religious people feel like when they are moved by the holy spirit. The peculiar thing is that some people will see the same piece of art and not be inspired or moved by it. It just does not register on that level and while you can explain why you are inspired or drawn to it, you either get it or you don't. Art is so incredibly difficult to define, and delving further into the subject, quantifying something as good art over mediocre art is even more puzzling.

To me it's very simple. It moves me or it doesn't. Klee, Wunderlich, Rauschenberg, Twombly, Basquiat, Benjamin all reinvigorate the sense of amusement and passion I have for life and I see and feel the beauty of the world more profoundly when I experience it. It's so overwhelming at times that I can't contain myself and am reduced to just being lucky that I am able to have access to such art. To me art is the best thing in the world next to love.

I cannot begin to explain how excited I get when I see a great piece of art or architecture. It's a natural high, I feel like God lives in that art the same way he or she or it lives in nature and I don't even believe in a creator or divine being. I just feel blessed that such things are in this world and that geniuses have bestowed their gifts of art to better our culture and enrich our souls.