Carols are playing, store owners are turning their display windows into winter wonderlands, and although Halloween has barely passed – it is hard not to be reminded how soon the holiday season is approaching. While shopping for your friends and loved ones can certainly be fun, what is not so exciting is a shopping list where you are stuck on what to get that person who has it all. Have you considered a gift that is as unique as it is immortal? Forget a pair of sad socks and treat your loved one to a work of art.
Art not only provides a welcome change from the transience of traditional gift giving it is one of the most meaningful gifts you could possibly give someone. It is a gift that they will cherish for a long time to come, rather than stashing it in the back of their closet and forgotten about as soon as the holidays are over. And for the person who has it all, art makes a one-of-a-kind gift that is sure to be enjoyed.
Here are five reasons why art makes the best Christmas gift.
Art Is Immortal
Art is immortal in several ways, both in its timeless presence and potential to live on well after an artist has died. However, art’s immortality also comes from the way it can be enjoyed by the original owner and then passed down for future generations to enjoy. Essentially, its owner is only a small part of the lifespan of the piece, because a quality, well-preserved painting will last for centuries.
Think back to your most beloved childhood memories, and some of the pieces of art that were owned by your parents or grandparents. Doesn’t it stand out in your mind vividly? That is because when art is created, it is a sort of birthing process, and from that, it becomes an object of history, achieving immortality as generations enjoy it across time.
Art is Good for Your Mental Health
Art as a Christmas gift will do wonders to help the recipient, even if he or she is not an art aficionado. In their research entitled “The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature,” authors Heather L. Stuckey, DEd and Jeremy Nobel, MD explore the relationship between engagement with the creative arts and health outcomes. Through a holistic health viewpoint, they discuss the literature surrounding how art can greatly enhance therapeutic outcomes, and put an observer in a calmer, more relaxed frame of mind. They state, “There is evidence that engagement with artistic activities, either as an observer of the creative efforts of others or as an initiator of one’s own creative efforts, can enhance one’s moods, emotions, and other psychological states as well as have a salient impact on important physiological parameters.”
Art is Unique
One of the most complicated parts of finding the perfect Christmas gift – especially a gift for that person who seems to have everything – is to find one that is unique. While there might be thousands of other people wearing the same shirt you bought last year for your loved one’s present, only one person will have the work of art that you purchase for them if you add art to this year’s shopping list. Being able to offer something so unique, and something that no one else has, makes the gift even more special to the person receiving it. Beyond that, art is always an unanticipated, unusual gift that will be a pleasant surprise the recipient, making them feel special for receiving it.
Art is a Good Investment
It is not often that a Christmas gift you buy for someone actually appreciates in value. In purchasing art, especially if you pay attention to new artists that are making a name for themselves in the industry, you are giving your friend or loved one a gift that will only be worth more as it ages. This puts an entirely new meaning to the expression “timeless gift”.
Art is Soulful
If you have ever owned a piece of fine art, then you understand the truly soulful connection a piece can have for its owner. Viewing it can remind you of a beautiful moment, a nostalgic reference that you can return to time and time again simply by gazing at the work. How many Christmas gifts offer this same experience?
The emotional experience that happens when you view art – especially if it is daily observation, on your home’s walls – is simply unparalleled. The colors can change your emotions, the movement creates pleasure, and everything about the piece has the ability to simply make your day better. What better way to show someone how much you care about them as a person than through a gift that offers all this?
And remember, as Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Very few gift choices can make that claim.
Recent Comments