A writer friend of mine has a signature on her email that says buying a book is buying art. As a writer, of course, I agree with her. But the thought, as all thought is, is deeper.

My definition of art is the epicenter of which creativity happens. It’s inspirational. It’s a building block to other art. Indeed, on of the main functions of art is to inspire other art and artists.

Let’s take an easy example. Michael Jackson. His art inspired other performers across different genre — Justin Timberlake to Usher. Paul McCartney to Brittany Spears. Their art is built on his art.

So does art belong to one person? Yes and no. Certainly when it’s being created and before it’s released to the world, it belong to it’s creator. It belongs in whole to the artist.

But it’s when the artist releases it’s creation to the world, unshielded by anonymity, that it becomes almost intellectual property.

This is what I’m not saying: Dont take someone’s art and put your name on it. That’s not art that’s stealing. And don’t create art and not give create to what inspired you. That’s just wrong and selfish. What I am saying is that once art is given to the world and it’s digested, heard, listened, read, and reflected on, its no longer the artist’s pet project or some file on a computer. Its experience and the trickle effect from it, belongs to the collective.

That’s probably why I like blogs so much. Well, my blog. Even though my creative art has not been published in traditional forms, it still reaches people. People still read my poems and my stories and it makes them reflect. Even if all they say is, “I liked it” or “It was cool” they saw a little piece of art that day and it’s going to hopefully inspire them to create some of their own.

It makes me happy to be an artist and to be someone who creates things that make people react. I know now it’s a blessing to be able to do that. I hope to give it justice as I continue down this path.