The Art of Wonder

A discussion about 'wonder.' Have you ever been walking through a gallery, or been browsing through a book, or even just walking down the street, and come across a piece of art — a painting, a sculpture, a photograph, even graffiti on a wall that's just stopped you dead? Something that seizes your imagination? Your very being?

When the Minneapolis Institute of Art decided to publish a book to mark its centenary, rather than write a straight ahead history it has instead created a book about the impact art can have on our lives. It's called The Art of Wonder: Inspiration, Creativity and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

In the forward Institute Director Kaywin Feldman writes about the aims for the book, "It would speak to the power of art to provoke wonder; to inspire creativity; to comfort; to shock; and to provide the language to say new things." It's a collection of essays, photographs, and a story in comic book form.

Three of the book's contributors joined MPR News host Euan Kerr in the studio Wednesday: Diane Richard is a writer and editor at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Dessa is a musician, writer and poet. And Pete Hautman is a novelist writing for both teens and adults.

Tell us in the comment section about the art which has rocked you in your socks, changed you life, or even just made you think about something in a completely new way.