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Tuesday, December 06, 2005

What is art?

One of my artist friends is painting ATCs. Artist Trading Cards. Little miniature paintings that are exchanged with other artists who are also painting the small cards. Is it art? Well, in my opinion, if you think it is art, then it's art. (Pause here for screaming in denial or approbation.)No one will ever agree on what art is. Here is my top ten list:
10. It's art because the artist says it is.
9. It's art because the artist loved doing it.
8. It's art because no one can prove it isn't.
7. It's beautiful.
6. It's functional, as well as beautiful.
5. It's well designed.
4. It connects people in a spiritual way.
3. It communicates with other people in a unique way.
2. It says something that can't be said in words.
1. It expresses feelings.

What's your top ten list of what art is?

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7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's weird! Just kidding! :P

10:37 PM  
Blogger The Crusty Crone said...

What is art....
That which touches your soul.
That which tickles your emotions
That which reaches deep within your being.

Or it could just make you giggle.

12:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everything is art to me (an industrial plant, an orchard, water, fire, arms, feathers, colour) but since humans dispise chaos, they make rules about what they call art. No concensus is reached yet about artmoney... time will tell....

9:17 AM  
Blogger Nita said...

I don't think time will tell. There probably never will be an answer--just what each individual thinks.

9:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I haven't made a list yet, but I think I will. I just wanted to add to your great list: it's art if SOMEBODY thinks it's beautiful. Somebody else might think it's totaly ugly, but it can still be art! :-)

11:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Only one problem....and that is by your criteria a piece of dog shit and a piece of child pornography are both art. Go through your list they are both art. Obviously though if those are considered art they should not be. My list is simpler. Art is a form of communication involving the edifying of the spirit.

1:08 AM  
Blogger Nita said...

Brady, I like your definition and can see your point. Nevertheless, post-Modern art has in some cases included shit or child pornography; and explicit, deviant sexual art has been around for more than 2000 years. None of that is at the top of my list, but they do fit in with # 8 and 10. I wonder if I should rethink that.

9:33 AM  

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