Amanda Pretlow- Trip to Baltimore

In November, I took a trip up to Baltimore with my parents to visit my sister. Next to her school, there is an art museum. That museum is our favorite venue in the city. Between the university and the museum is an outdoor sculpture garden. In the garden, there are several modern sculptures made of mostly steel. While the steel is cold and the art is not necessarily inspirational (to me, at least), its placement adds to its spirituality. The sculptures are located in a dropped garden. As you descend the stairs, you are all but engulfed in a small forest of trees and other greenery. At the bottom of the stairs, you are able to see the collection of sculptures arranged to complement the landscaping and architecture. When I had reached the bottom of the steps, I could not help but gasp in awe. The entire picture was beautiful. You are basically surrounded by a wall of trees and forced to become a part of the garden rather than just a spectator. When my family and I were there, there was another family enjoying the garden with us. The looks of their faces were the same as ours. Such a simple arrangement had produced a genuine feeling of awe. As we walked around the garden, we took in every aspect of the sculpture garden. It made me wonder: Must art be created for a religious purpose to inspire a spiritual experience?