During my visit to Norfolk, I decided to focus on its role as an artistic hub. We visited the “Neon District,” which contained many different opportunities to enjoy the arts. There were music festivals, museums, art galleries, theatres, and murals adorning the streets. The first place I visited was an art festival at the d’Art center. It was free for the community, and it drew me in because of the lively atmosphere. There were food, drinks, music, and even a clown for entertainment. The artwork was very diverse, including paintings, drawings, clay pieces, and even glass. Looking at a pamphlet, a map of Norfolk showed nearly a hundred other places where I could explore the arts. I noticed that quite a few of the pieces of artwork portrayed societal problems, my favorite being “My First School Lesson” by Tony Armadillo. Directly across from the d’Art center was the Chrysler Museum of Glass. Many of the areas displaying art were free, allowing the artists’ messages to be heard by the community. Musicians, painters, sculptors, and artists of all types have the opportunity to take what they have created and use it to draw people’s attention to a certain problem or idea, and I found that a lot of the art that I viewed did just that. Although Norfolk was full of tall buildings and parking garages, there was a certain charm that I didn’t expect to find in such a busy city. In one of the art galleries, I spoke to a woman who explained to me the importance of art, whether it is music or a drawing class. I wholeheartedly agreed, and it is my personal opinion that appreciation of the arts is very important, and one of the reasons why Norfolk is such a popular spot among tourists.
Divinity's Travels 