Art is something I’ve decided is completely in the eye of the beholder. I, for example, would consider these antique bread knives to be art. Just look at the detailed carving of the handles. Does the fact that something is utilitarian preclude it from being art? Is it only art if it hangs on the wall or collects dust on the mantle…or worse, is kept behind security glass in a climate-controlled museum? To me, art isn’t merely about beauty; a piece must reach inside and grab my soul. There’s not much rhyme or reason to what I like, but I’m definitely more likely to swoon over a hand-carved knife handle than the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. I can certainly appreciate the time and talent masters like Michelangelo invested in their paintings and sculptures, but they generally are not pieces that resonate with me. I’m grateful that I don’t just think of art as something on display in a museum…because I’m surrounded by artwork in the form of a hand-knit scarf, a mural on a downtown building, a sculpture made from vintage farm equipment, even a carved pumpkin.