Art evokes spontaneous emotion. Part of our attraction to experiencing works of art comes from the desire to feel something unexpected. Art can make us very happy, and when it does we get excited. This is the relationship between art and intoxication.
There is a painting that I wish to have in my home. I go and visit it. Every time I see it, I feel a kind of joy. You might feel that way about a work of art, too. I like to go to galleries and museums because the possibility of being elated is waiting there for me.
Have you ever seen a dance, a theatre performance, or a film that made your heart race or your mind explode into newness of perception? Elation can refresh you and give you new eyes to view your world.
When you are dancing in front of a live band at a festival, you can feel dizzy, spun out, and wild. If you want to feel good, ask some musician friends play music on your porch or around a bon fire. Yes, you might add some wine into the mix, but the intoxication is enhanced by the music and poetry. Intoxication is there in the lyrical soaring of a human voice. Intoxication is rising up from the heartbeat of the hand drums. Look up into the sky to absorb the beauty of the night. Suddenly, spontaneously, all this beauty refreshes the soul.
Of course, some art does not seek to evoke happiness. Some art expresses sorrow or anger. There is a lot of "anxsty and glitches out" art out there. It has the power to change you when you encounter it. Art carries story with it. If you “get it”, then it might be telling your story, holding up a mirror. There are many emotions, but when art causes you to feel, it is still unexpected, and it moves you.
One of my favorite art experiences was being at the Flaming Lips concert when they performed “Dark Side of the Moon” in its entirety. They had created a massive digital screen that looked like a portal on stage. The images and the music transported the audience. These artists were evoking a shared emotion of amazement and awe. The past was woven into the present, and a different future seemed possible. It is rare and rich to enjoy such artistry in our lives.
I think there were probably people in that crowd who were less moved than I was. I am pretty spontaneous and love music and dancing. Your reaction to art is personal, but when you surround yourself with others who are open to new experiences, you become more open, too. This is transformative work you are doing when you choose to become an affectionate being who loves art. Next time you are wanting a little spontaneity, go off searching for art. When you find it, allow yourself to feel the spontaneous elation of loving art!
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Jeannie Cerulean is a theatre artist and Mountain Justice activist, professor of Theatre and Speech at UTChattanooga, and artistic director of "We Are Nature Lovers", festival production.