Anything in this world can be labeled as a work of art. Art will never be described as one particular item, place, or person. I believe that one’s perceptive on things depicts if it is consisted of artistic material or not. With that in mind, I chose to write on my mother’s memorial stone.
“A memorial stone?”
Yes, a memorial stone. Although it might not be your typical work of art like a painting, sculptor or mural; I truly see her resting place as the most beautiful piece of art. Her resting place means a lot to my family and me.
My Visit
On Sunday morning, I visited my mother at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood. The cemetery contains amazing views of the hills all around. Her memorial stone is a copper color inscribed with her name and several meaningful words. Big copper flowers that look like lilies border it. At the center it contains an engraved picture of my mom. On this particular day I was trying to pay attention to my surroundings to find a potential work of art. As we finished decorating my mothers place for Easter I took a step back and realized that I had a work of art in front of me all this time. I began to think back to my previous visits and realize that each time consists of completely new artistic material even if it was just flowers.
The Artists
For the last three years my family and I decorate her memorial stone for any special occasion:
· Valentines Day
· Easter
· Her Birthday
· Mother’s Day
· Thanksgiving
· Christmas
· Death Anniversary
· Etc.
My family and I are the artists. We all come together and agree what should be used for this years Valentines decoration or this years Easter decoration. All twelve artists contribute by adding their personal touch that enhances the expression of love felt as we admire our work. We always decorate in hopes that she loves it as much as we do.
“You think she will like it ?”
Authenticity and Aura
Each and every single time we decorate we create a new work of art. We may not be painting a picture or creating a figure out of clay but we do put lots of hard work and dedication into making every single detail perfect. We make sure the stone is clean and shiny, each decoration placed is straight and secure, or just making sure her space is never empty. As I mentioned before it is not a cliché work of art as a painting or a sculpture. As Walter Benjamin states in his text “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” that aura is an abstract feeling that can be expressed when witnessing the true authenticity of a work of art. I have experienced aura every single time I visit my mother because everything that we place with her carries it own type of authenticity. Nobody else can duplicate the same hard work, dedication, or love that we put into decorating for her.
Sadly, many people are not as fortunate as my mother who has her family decorate. Many people’s memorial place has had no flowers for many years. This is how I believe authenticity is lost. Empty stones becomes the same as all the other empty stones. They contain no significant difference or any sort of originality. One simple flower allows the stone to create its own work of art Everything placed by the stone has purpose and a different meaning to each individual.
Meanings:
· Colored flower symbolizing favorite color
· Specific flower symbolizing favorite flower
· Placing a piece of cake for a birthday
· Placing “Beloved Mom” banner
What am I trying to say?
I believe anybody can name anything in the world art, but what truly makes art is the hard work and compassion felt as the art is viewed. It is hard to believe that something so saddening like a memorial stone would be seen as art, but if you
witness these works of art you will always see the family’s hard work and compassion. Next time you visit a loved one at the cemetery look at the works of art created all around you.
Yes, a memorial stone. Although it might not be your typical work of art like a painting, sculptor or mural; I truly see her resting place as the most beautiful piece of art. Her resting place means a lot to my family and me.
My Visit
On Sunday morning, I visited my mother at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood. The cemetery contains amazing views of the hills all around. Her memorial stone is a copper color inscribed with her name and several meaningful words. Big copper flowers that look like lilies border it. At the center it contains an engraved picture of my mom. On this particular day I was trying to pay attention to my surroundings to find a potential work of art. As we finished decorating my mothers place for Easter I took a step back and realized that I had a work of art in front of me all this time. I began to think back to my previous visits and realize that each time consists of completely new artistic material even if it was just flowers.
The Artists
For the last three years my family and I decorate her memorial stone for any special occasion:
· Valentines Day
· Easter
· Her Birthday
· Mother’s Day
· Thanksgiving
· Christmas
· Death Anniversary
· Etc.
My family and I are the artists. We all come together and agree what should be used for this years Valentines decoration or this years Easter decoration. All twelve artists contribute by adding their personal touch that enhances the expression of love felt as we admire our work. We always decorate in hopes that she loves it as much as we do.
“You think she will like it ?”
Authenticity and Aura
Each and every single time we decorate we create a new work of art. We may not be painting a picture or creating a figure out of clay but we do put lots of hard work and dedication into making every single detail perfect. We make sure the stone is clean and shiny, each decoration placed is straight and secure, or just making sure her space is never empty. As I mentioned before it is not a cliché work of art as a painting or a sculpture. As Walter Benjamin states in his text “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” that aura is an abstract feeling that can be expressed when witnessing the true authenticity of a work of art. I have experienced aura every single time I visit my mother because everything that we place with her carries it own type of authenticity. Nobody else can duplicate the same hard work, dedication, or love that we put into decorating for her.
Sadly, many people are not as fortunate as my mother who has her family decorate. Many people’s memorial place has had no flowers for many years. This is how I believe authenticity is lost. Empty stones becomes the same as all the other empty stones. They contain no significant difference or any sort of originality. One simple flower allows the stone to create its own work of art Everything placed by the stone has purpose and a different meaning to each individual.
Meanings:
· Colored flower symbolizing favorite color
· Specific flower symbolizing favorite flower
· Placing a piece of cake for a birthday
· Placing “Beloved Mom” banner
What am I trying to say?
I believe anybody can name anything in the world art, but what truly makes art is the hard work and compassion felt as the art is viewed. It is hard to believe that something so saddening like a memorial stone would be seen as art, but if you
witness these works of art you will always see the family’s hard work and compassion. Next time you visit a loved one at the cemetery look at the works of art created all around you.
Xiomara Arnao is a student at California state University of Northridge. She dreams of one day becoming a nurse and helping those in need.