Kate Guthrie’s Weblog

The display in the fox building had a series which i found particularly interesting and beautiful. It was entitled “trees” two walls were covered with frames of various colors and sizes. Within each frame was a different representation of a tree. They were done with various mediums, ink, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and charcoal. It was interesting to see the character of each tree conveyed through reach medium. The trees were all over different colors, shapes and sizes, the manner of each tree’s branches was executed differently. Each communicated a different species of tree and the individuality that each species has. To me, this series communicated how nature is an art form in its own way.

I felt like singing, so I did. and I made it art to boot! (that is paint on my hands and feet, I just made a Pollock-type painting) =]

I found this exhibit in the contemporary museum one of the most intriguing. Viewers enter a small room and see a sign that asks guests to take off their shoes before entering, automatically engaging the audience into an experience and set the mood for a “spa-like” environment. The small pathway is dimly lit and the walls are lined with comfortable seats. While sitting in the quiet room, it was not quiet at all. There were sounds of soothing music, but it was accompanied by audio of a conversation. I listened to the voices for a long while, trying to figure out what they were saying or even what language it was in. What kept me there for so long was my curiosity of what these people were saying and what was happening between them (there was much crying and yelling). It was interesting how my mood changed so quickly in that space. I began with a calm feeling which quickly changed to confusion which then progressed into a very unsettling feeling as I heard these voices which seemed to be involved in a very emotionally stressful situation.

One of the songs that truly made me understand the importance of communication through music was a piece written by a student in my choir. I think because it was written by a choir member, that automatically made the choir have a personal connection to it. On top of that, it is a gorgeous piece with so much emotional contrast; pouring myself into that piece was almost an out-of-body experience, everything was enrapt with melody and harmony. To this day, (even at this very moment as I listen to it) this piece evokes something in me, it will always be a gem from my life-changing musical experiences. It is honest and beautiful; a true work of art.

I have been part of choirs since elementary school and I always enjoyed making music. The idea of emotion and feeling conveyed through music was always talked about, and I simply took it for granted. Singing made me happy, and I thought that was that. When I got to High school, that changed. Our director told us more and more about how much better out performance would change if we emotionally connected to the piece. I thought I understood. There was a moment in one of our performances, though, where it clicked. I heard the music as though it wasnt coming from me and forty other individuals it was from a whole, one body of sound, communication. 

“what comes from a mouth goes to an ear, what comes from a heart goes to a heart”  

My choir director had told us this proverb and I absorbed it as a nice sentiment at first. It was in that performance, we could have been singing in a parking lot and not a cathedral and it would have been the same, beautiful experience I understood the proverb, I was filled with music and I was giving music. It was then that I understood what music could really be.