Last night, Lawrenceville, already overrun by hipsters welcomed every other creative loving person and anyone else out for a free good time. This was the 16th annual event, and you may not know it but I helped design the very first Art All Night poster.

I often see a few things that really rock my art world, but this year not so much. Still it was a tremendous and fun event. I especially love standing back and watching aspiring artists proudly show their work to a patent or friend. I remember my first art show. I remember that feeling. Don’t get me wrong, there was some cool work there. But all in all, this was much more a celebration of creativity over anything else. One issue was that most work was quite small. This isn’t a problem in and of itself, but when you are viewing hundreds and hundreds of items, after a while pieces can blend into each other.

I had one peculiar experience this year.  I was drawn to a small piece of foamboard, about 11″ x 14″ or so with these unique animal-like figures on it. The colors, shaped and lines all attracted me. I said aloud to my partner, “I really like this one,” and a young woman behind me, asked,”Do you like it better than anything else on this wall”? At first, I didn’t realize she was talking to me, but as soon as I got that, I was then, really confused. For me, Art isn’t about deciding what is the best and least, or most liked compared to least liked.  Each piece is on its own, and I either am drawn to it or not.

Art is to be enjoyed, not compared as if there is a best and a less than the best.