Reflections on One Year at the Harrison Center
Wednesday, May 27th marked one year that I have had the privilege of being a part of the Harrison Center staff. Each of the past 365 days has, more and more, led me into a world that was previously unknown to me.
Here are a few things I’ve learned:
Questions bring us closer to community
For me, this year has been full of questions. What does it mean to be an artist in Indianapolis? Why is it important to support local artists? Why are the arts important in general? What elements characterize 1950s abstract impressionism?
In all of my questions, I came to the realization that being willing to expose your ignorance to others by asking questions is pivotal for the sake of personal growth, as well as in building solid community. Relative to the arts, I’ve found that, especially at HCA, artists are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. In fact, simply by asking questions I have gained a number of budding relationships that I hope to continue to grow.
Art does not have to be intimidating
While on the surface, the world of the visual arts may seem intimidating, I’ve found that at HCA you don’t have to understand in order to belong. What is beautiful about the approach to the arts at HCA is that the artists welcome questions and conversations surrounding their work. This is beautiful because this safety creates a forum where you are free to learn, free to express your opinion, and free to observe without any fear of judgment.
A Few Words from Mr. Vonnegut
And finally, in the words of Kurt Vonnegut, “The arts are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well, or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake.” If you have not spent much time at the Harrison Center, I would encourage you to stop by and welcome the world of the arts into your life. Like any world, it’s not always easy, but I can assure you; it is good.