Isn't it strange how sometimes the memories that remain most vivid in your mind may in the grand scheme of things be the most unremarkable or mundane experiences?

It can be a few simple, kind words spoken in passing or a summer day you remember relaxing and wasting away in the company of those you love.

For me, I have this distinct memory of sitting at the coffee table in my family room when I was about 4 years old drawing for hours when suddenly my mom approached me. She asked me if I wanted to be an artist when I grew up and in a firm and assertive declaration without even a bit of indecisiveness, I replied "yes." As if the question she asked was the most ridiculous thing I could wrap my mind around.

At 4, life is simple. You see things in black and white. You have no innate inhibitions preventing you from doing what you love or saying exactly how you feel. And so even though the innocence has long faded away, I have always made sure that I never let the passion I felt for art to be lost.

A few months back, my friend and I stopped inside a local store called Gone To Pot. It is filled with vastly distinctive styles of handcrafted artwork, all of them beautiful and each piece a separate and unique expression of its artist. The owner had told me that if I brought my paintings in she would consider selling them in her store, but things kept getting in the way and it was not until this weekend that I finally made it back to her with some of my work.

Sadly enough, she informed me that the store was going to be closing and, unfortunately, with the economy allowing for few extras people were rarely devoting funds to art.

I felt heartbroken, but not about the lost opportunity. It was at the fact that all of this breathtaking work would no longer have the chance to be appreciated.

The owner just wants others to have a chance to see the beauty in the local artists' work she sells and use the little time she has left to share it with our community. She has discounted all the work to basically half off and there are some true gems to be found and admired.

I recommend you stop by this store before it closes tentatively in the next month. It is at 2034 45th St. in Highland and I assure you that you will not be disappointed.

The most amazing thing about art is that it does not come with an instruction manual. There are no specific boundaries for interpretation. The artists created it as an expression of themselves and yet someone else can appreciate it without knowledge or cognition of this outlet.

It creates the possibility of a connection being formed while allowing both parties to enjoy and communicate with it completely differently.

The opinions are solely those of the writer.