Into the Heartlands

“Art is literacy of the heart.” ~Elliot Eisner

A few weeks ago I made my annual summer pilgrimage to visit family. It was a roadtrip that had purpose beyond a reunion of kinfolk. Many times I followed a route that went off the beaten path of interstate highways to less traveled byways. Everywhere I went I observed outward displays of Americans seeking ways to mend their spirits and insulate themselves from the news of tragedies playing out in the news.

In Fredericksburg, Virginia, a shining example of a small town with an important historic past, I captured this picture:

I believe the street art, created by an unknown but very talented artist, reflects the sentiments of many people.  In my opinion, we are at the cusp of an era when people are increasingly seeking to find beauty in their lives through the humanities.

According to Stanford University, ” The humanities can be described as the study of how people process and document the human experience. Since humans have been able, we have used philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history and language to understand and record our world.”

In coming weeks I will share a few other photos I captured along the way that display ways of lifting up and sowing the hearts of the American people.

I’m glad you’ve visited SowtheHeart.com. Do come back next week!