Art provides an energy that just doesn't exist in a void. Everyone benefits from art and more importantly everyone benefits from the creative mind.
Having evidence of creative minds in our community allows us to see the world a little different. So being in an art-centric place like Oil City offers us a unique understanding of the world.
Remember when those weird box-looking tiny cars came out how nearly everyone thought they were weird, yet for some they were just what the doctor ordered.
Well somewhere this concept came from a very creative mind who had the gumption to put the idea out there. Just like somewhere in a board room someone threw out the idea "We should have a movie where sharks are flying around in a tornado!"
I like to be challenged when I look at art.
Technique doesn't challenge, weirdness doesn't challenge, color, texture, scale... don't challenge. Challenge comes from being surprised and witnessing the unexpected with some level of proficiency of technique, color, texture, scale and yes weirdness. Challenge comes when the artist's insides explode out in either emotion or something cerebral.
Art wakes you.
Anyone who thinks it doesn't, doesn't take note of what excites them enough to realize that the creative mind of an artist was fully involved at some point in the process, because everything that is human-made took someone thinking of something that was never thought of before.