Does Art Matter?

Looking at Art:

David Brooks wrote a recent opinion article in the New York Times in which he said, “The arts work on us at that deep level, the level that really matters.” He believes that “…art has the potential to humanize the beholder.” In our age of polarization, the value of art in our lives  should be a great benefit to everyone. Do you agree?

Work in the Studio:

As I continue to process the experience of my surgery while I recover physically, I have been looking for a way to express my feelings in paint. The painting shown here includes a ghost like image of my face observing the procedure. So often, scenes involving surgery are gory things. My intention was to focus on the emotion rather that the actual incision, eliminating the gory details. How do you read this work?

My Open Heart, Watercolor, 14” x 11”