Jonesing for the red dot

I can get addicted to anything and everything- – that goes for Haagen Daz to heroin. I have to remain ever vigilant, making sure that I don’t put dangerous addictive substances in my body. As a result, I’ve become one of those drug free, sugar free, non smoking, vegetarian people. I know it’s crazy, but trust me, you wouldn’t want to meet the alternative!

Once an addict, always an addict. I’ve learned to transfer my addictive tendencies to other things like exercise, music, shoes, the stock market and especially art. Ok, I’ll admit it, I have a serious art habit. Art is dope to me!

That brings me to today’s topic, the red dot. Have you ever been to an art gallery and seen one of those little red dots beside the painting’s description? The red dot means it’s been sold. The red dot, to an art addict is crack. I’ve had the red dot experience a few times and let me tell you it’s sublime. When a painting reaches in and grabs your soul and the feeling that I can’t live without this overtakes you, the only relief is the red dot. Sold. Those red dots you see in galleries are loaded with invisible but valuable information. The red dot means there is a home for that piece of artwork. When the show comes down the painting goes home with one lucky individual. The artwork becomes a part of a life and a part of a family.

We’ll talk about provenance on another day. But, for now, let’s talk about another red dot phenomena that is much more pervasive and far more pernicious – that’s the social media red dot. Admit it, you’re addicted to it. We all are. That red dot that pops up in the right corner of the facebook app on your iphone is highly addictive. How long can you resist the urge to open the app and find out who liked something you posted? Don’t you post things specifically to collect those red dots? Admit it, you’re thrilled when the red dot count goes into double digits.

Social media addiction is real and sweeping through our culture. Sure, you won’t lose your home or your job because of a bad case of red dot addiction. But, it may be stealing precious moments from your life experience. Addiction is progressive, so be aware, you may have caught a social disease – chances are, you’re already jonesing for the red dot. The red dot is hot!