The Whole Ball of Wax

      The Whole Ball of Wax written by Jerry Saltz provides an insight to what art is and how people look and think about it. Art is able to make some type of change. Although it may not be drastic or immediate, it still has an impact great enough. However, society needs to know how to look and discover the artwork in order to realize this potential impact. Saltz states, "Art is an energy source that helps make change possible; it sees things in clusters and constellations rather than rigid systems" (pg. 1). Here, he wants everyone to realize that art is not something that is left alone, instead it is something that is a culmination of different ideas and different topics. This group of many things can help those looking at art to become more intuitive in what is could potentially mean. 
      Once you are able to realize these certain aspects of art, it can often be a healing process that many people need. They may not even know that they needed it, yet once they finally feel the healing that it has made, it becomes even more of realization. To be able to have this healing, the onlooker needs to be able to look through the art, at the art, and into the art. Saltz continues to support this by saying that after September 11th one person went to a museum and saw antique furniture which made them feel better about the whole situation. To most people, furniture would not have this type of healing affect, however they were able to look deeply and see just how this would be the beneficial. 
      Lastly, Saltz uses the analogy of a cat and how a cat is art. I found this point most interesting. As mentioned, cats normally do not come when they are called by their name. They continue on doing their own thing and minding their own business. This leaves an area of space in between you and the cat. This is the space that one must understand in accordance with art. There is a big area that some people may comprehend all of it, while others may only comprehend parts of it, whether small or big. Referring to the cat, a person must be able to grasp what the cat is thinking to fully get its communication. Just like in art, you should be able to accept it in order to realize the communication between you and the art.