You don't need to travel to enjoy art

One of the things I am most excited about on the upcoming trip is all the art museums I am going to get to visit--the National Gallery, the Tate, Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, the Prado, and so much more. I will finally to get to see works in person I have only seen on paper.  I will get to see the brush strokes, see the paintings in their actual size.

I was reminded today that I do not need to travel halfway around the world to enjoy art.  I try to walk between the train station and my office at least once a day.  My favorite route takes a short cut through the Rio Grande Depot, an old railroad station that was built around 1910 and now houses the Utah State Historical Society archives.  It also has an art gallery that I usually hurry past as I race on to work, or to catch the train.  Today I finally slowed down, and took the time to walk around the gallery.

I had forgotten how looking at different types and styles of art sparks new thoughts and inspires imagination.  My favorite piece was a wooden bird house on a pedestal which came up to about my chin.  Scattered on the floor beneath were dozens of origami cranes in a multitude of colors.  Lettering on the floor asked me to please take one.  I bent over to pick out a crane.  As my head passed by the bird house, I noticed a strange rustling noise coming from within.  I peeked into the entrance hole to see what it was.  There was a movie playing within the bird house, a movie of a man folding origami cranes.

I choose a turquoise crane, and left the gallery to go catch my train.  I look at the little crane and vow to remember to take the time to slow down and enjoy art and beauty where ever I find it, whether at home or abroad.