Every season, museums present a new set of exhibitions to inspire, challenge and educate the public. Now that St. Louis museums have had a few weeks to celebrate their openings, their exhibitions and their artists, I want to take a moment to appreciate the diversity in Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis’ four spring shows.

Deana Lawson’s photographs in the newly-opened exhibition, “Deana Lawson,” at Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis resonate with grace and power and beauty.

Greed, gluttony, oil spills and destruction. If it concerns a hot social issue, Residential Areas Real Art (RARA) will likely have an entire collection of artwork to address it. The group was founded in 2009 by two Washington University students to showcase student artwork in hopes that it would grasp the attention of the greater St. Louis community.

Walking into a contemporary art museum is always a bit of an adventure. You don’t know exactly what to expect, only that it will be something very different from what is classically defined as “art.” With its current exhibitions, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis does not fail to deliver that journey.

Contemporary art will always inspire fierce debates; this is undeniable. What is or is not art? Is modern art of comparable quality to previous bodies of work or artistic movements? Art can be variously defined; but, in general terms, it is often described as something that gives rise to emotions in the viewer.