Art Hop is like a living organism: every spring, this creative symbiosis emerges between store owners and artists, to create a unique experience that allows both determined art aficionados and the serendipitous passers-by to chance upon a variety of artistic works as they meander from one shop to another down the winding main street. It’s quite unique, and I wish that we in Wheaton had something like this. But the village-community feel of downtown Takoma Park, with its walkable streets and mom-and-pop stores, lends itself perfectly to this kind of event.

Many thanks to Kate Rhudy for organizing everything, and to Jude Garrett, the owner of Now and Then, for hosting me and photographer Jan Morales!

A couple of days ago, I noticed a mockingbird perched at the very top of a tree in front of the library, and only a few yards from the rushing traffic below. It was singing the most beautiful song, nearly imperceptible above the roar of the cars and trucks. Were it not for its song, I would not even have looked up and noticed this plucky little bird.

It was almost impossible that other mockingbirds could hear it. And yet the bird continued, undaunted, performing the most beautiful melody you had ever heard, completely unique, completely original. It seemed as if it could not do otherwise.

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That little bird made me realize how important it is to create something beautiful even if it seems that there is no one there to see or hear it. Artists must work against the din of our tech-heavy lives, where distractions abound and finding the time to appreciate a work of art eludes even the most well-meaning people.

But because that one mockingbird kept on singing above the traffic, I stopped in my tracks and just stood there, enjoying the music, nearly forgetting  the cacophony of diesel and steel. That’s what art is for. To help us tune out the din and tune in to the beauty that is around us.