When we think about art, we tend to think about beautiful paintings hanging in a museum, or an elegant dancer moving across a stage. Perhaps you think of the music of Mozart or a moving poem.
All of these things are art…but have you ever considered the work of art in everyday things, like professional plumbing? That’s right; I said plumbing.
Plumbing services are probably the last thing you think of when you hear the word “art,” but hear me out. Modern plumbing is without a doubt an art form, and I can tell you exactly why I think so.
It Was Always Art!
If you look up the origin of the modern word “art,” you’ll find that it comes from the Latin “ars” which means (among other things) skill, science, knowledge, and craft.
What is plumbing if not a craft that requires skill and knowledge of science? By that definition then, plumbing has been an art since its very inception!
Still don’t believe me? It is said that art is doing something hard, and making it look easy. Think back to any time you or someone you know has ever tried to fix a plumbing issue on your own and failed. When you finally give up and call a plumber to resolve the same problem, they seem to have no trouble at all!
Modern Plumbing
A more obvious way in which plumbing can be interpreted as “art” is its use in dancing water shows around the world. The world-famous Fountains of Bellagio draw crowds every night with their spectacle of water, light, and music.
The 12,000 individual fountains span 1,000 feet and move 22 million gallons of water throughout the course of a year.
The fountains spray water at varying intervals of height and intensity to give the show more dimension, at some times shooting water as high as 460 feet into the air! So I ask- is a show of dancing water, music, and lights considered art?
I imagine the programmers of this show think so. Then wouldn’t it stand to reason that the plumbing that makes it possible for the fountains to do what they do also be considered a part of that art?
Suburban Uses
You don’t have to get on a plane and travel to Las Vegas to witness the art of plumbing in action, though. Every day, plumbing is being used in new and innovative ways all around us.
If you’ve ever used a public drinking fountain, a swimming pool, a child’s sprinkler toy, or seen a man-made and designed lake, then you’ve been a part of the art of plumbing!
Now, I don’t know about you, but thinking of all the cool and beautiful things plumbing can do has made me appreciate it in a new way. It sort of makes you think about all the other little things in our world that we take for granted every day, doesn’t it? So the next time you’re judging whether or not something should be considered “art,” consider this: Does it contribute to a more artful life as professional plumbing does?
