Normally I wouldn't ever find myself in a museum. They were never really my thing. So when I found out we were writing a paper on a piece of art, I got a little nervous. I'm not artistic at all so I thought it would be pretty hard to find a piece of art that I really liked. Turns out, you never know if you'll like something unless you try it.  There was one piece of art that I thought at first was boring, but as I kept looking at it I couldn't help but take a liking to it.

        The art piece that really spoke to me was “Curtains” by Christopher Atkins. He took photos at night when he couldn't sleep, because he suffered from insomnia. In this photograph,  *I see colorful floral curtains completely covering the windows. The flowers on the curtains are big balls of petals. The dark green leaves have light green highlights. The leaves are sharp edged, like shears had created them. The background is a dark bluish purple hue. The color of the flowers vary from deep blood red, to light pink and white, with petals that blossom in layers.  It appears that they're covering large six-pane windows that open outward. In the distance, a sunset lurks, slowly sinking below the horizon. The sunset burns like a warm ember in the crisp night air. This photo is very solemn.
        This photograph was taken without a flash, but the lighting in the bottom left corner gives the illusion that someone had turned on a lamp. Other than this corner, the left side of the windows doesn't appear to have much lighting. The right side, however, is more lit up with the sunset barely seeping in through the curtains. The far right side has a dark thick black line connecting to another thick line on the bottom of the picture. This creates a windowsill. Dark lines throughout this photo also appear to be folds in the curtains.
        One interpretation of this photograph, is sad and bittersweet. An elderly person stares out the window, watching his life slowly fade, like a sunset. He isn’t upset or sad, but recognizes it is his time to go and accepts it. Patiently waiting to join his loved ones. It feels like the person is anticipating his end, ready for it. He sits, and he waits.
       Another interpretation of mine, is someone hiding. Hiding from the world, and hiding from fears. The windows are the eyes into the world, and they are using the curtains to protect themselves from it. Touching the sheer, rough curtains, to take a peek out once in awhile. They are unable to face their fears, or unable to face the world for what it is. If you feared change, the world would not be your friend. You might even find yourself in a small cabin out in the middle of nowhere with floral curtains closed tightly, making sure you never have to see the change.
          My final interpretation is that the outer appearance and inner appearance are often not the same. When you look out into the world, it's dark and depressing, you can barely see the sun. If you were to look into the windows from the outside, though, it would be happy, colorful floral curtains. Which represents most lives, maintaining the outer appearance even if it doesn't reflect the inner. Appearing normal. On the inside, it might be a totally different story. They might be sad, or lonely, but don't know how to reach out to anyone. They might be perfectly fine but just like to close their curtains at night. Nobody knows because, nothing is what it seems.
       I liked this photograph because it was not a special picture to the eye, but all sorts of deep meanings and thoughts tumbled out of my mind like a rapidly flowing waterfall, as I stared out those curtained windows. It was no longer a photograph, but it was me looking out the window, me closing the curtains tight to close out the view I no longer wished to see. The pretty sunset was deceiving, behind it lay the ruins of everything I once thought was possible. Everything I grew up thinking I could do. When I was younger, anything was possible. Now as I grow up I realize that not everything can be accomplished in one lifetime.
All of this hides behind the beauty of simple things. Sunsets are beautiful, but what do they leave you with? A cold dark night with nothing but the images of itself wandering loose in your thoughts as you stare into the loud darkness.
        I think a lot of people think I am always on top of things and have everything planned out. The cold hard truth is that I don’t. I just go through the motions of everything and hope for the best. I am constantly stressed about balancing my life. I won’t lie, I do have a lot of my future planned out, which is more than others can say for themselves. But just because they’re planned out, doesn’t mean they will follow through and work out for me. I just have to work hard towards my goals and hope I succeed. Most people do not realize, the inside picture is not always as glamorous as the outside.
         Drawing the curtains is something that I would enjoy doing once in awhile, taking a day off from my busy life. I know this year I can't do that, because I need to buckle down and work hard, putting effort into everything I do. Knowing this makes me stressed, but I know I will get through it like always, and be proud of myself for achieving so much.
        Everyone copes with their issues differently. Sometimes I really want to hide behind those curtains, but I can't. Not because I am physically unable, but because I am unsure of my ability to leave my hiding spot, once in it. So here I stay. I stay because I trust I am strong and can get myself through anything I set my mind to. I stay because I know some aren't strong enough to make it through their battles on their own. So in the end, hiding behind your windows is fine, in moderation. If you need time away, take it. Just don't get lost on your way home.