tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post287448228150548395..comments2023-10-31T08:45:33.812-04:00Comments on True Adventures of an Art Addict: What is Art, Really?Sharmon Davidsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06222935617263973858noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-75170689867941979152012-04-22T10:16:19.550-04:002012-04-22T10:16:19.550-04:00Lynne, you've summed it up well. I also found...Lynne, you've summed it up well. I also found it interesting that her work was shown at Agora gallery- which means her parents or someone probably had to pay for the exhibit. They have contacted me many times as well; I just hit 'delete'. Thanks for commenting! xoSharmon Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857659019638341374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-11087478078993666402012-04-21T20:41:55.769-04:002012-04-21T20:41:55.769-04:00Oh well, "what is art" is really one of ...Oh well, "what is art" is really one of those unanswerable questions, isn't it, only meant to provoke thought and conversation and perhaps a little controversy. If the piece speaks to a viewer on a deep level, moves them in some way, perhaps that is enough to qualify it as "art." Or is it the intention to make art that defines it as such? I find it interesting that the Agora Gallery is doing the promotion of the "child prodigy." They recently contacted me, having somehow stumbled upon my blog, and invited me to mount an exhibit at their New York Gallery...for only $x,000.00 ! Perhaps if I had unlimited means I would have jumped at the chance, because it would have been FUN, but there's no way I could afford to take on that great "opportunity" to be shown in NYC. <br />How many times have you come across that comment in a guest book at an art gallery, "My 5 year old could make art like that and do it better!" Perhaps, too often, it is only too true. These days, looking around various galleries, it seems that anything goes. Money talks, but tastes change.Lynne with an ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00320166770541319601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-61993260138980841872012-04-20T20:09:58.070-04:002012-04-20T20:09:58.070-04:00Mo Crow- I think your friend's statement is ve...Mo Crow- I think your friend's statement is very astute. Time does seem to weed out those fads and momentary styles. We can only do what our hearts tell us and attempt to express ourselves as best we can.Sharmon Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857659019638341374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-89361043940165734692012-04-20T16:42:09.569-04:002012-04-20T16:42:09.569-04:00as artists all we can do is realize the things tha...as artists all we can do is realize the things that have to come out of our hands, hearts and minds... what happens to them out in the world and what is deemed as art or craft or whatever is ultimately just a question of the current ideas of pop taste & style... I have been having this conversation all my life but a wise friend once said "in a thousand years what will resonate with the soul - a shard of handmade pottery or a CD that can't be deciphered?"Mo Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09004208849028911104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-43175620152828719542012-04-16T21:02:08.775-04:002012-04-16T21:02:08.775-04:00Lynne- it's true that art is in the eye of the...Lynne- it's true that art is in the eye of the beholder. People in my family ask me "why don't you do pen and ink drawings of Fountain Square? you could make money." aaaaaaagh!<br /><br />Mo Crow- Thank you for the lovely compliment. I really enjoyed the Ted talk. As for Damien Hirst, obscene amounts of money, and all that, I really don't know what to say. You can't draw a line and say, "this is art" or "that definitely isn't"; who would make the decision?Sharmon Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857659019638341374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-79911069253673173122012-04-08T17:28:18.766-04:002012-04-08T17:28:18.766-04:00a very thought provoking post ... what is art? is ...a very thought provoking post ... what is art? is it what the style miesters tell us is art at the moment? Damian Hirst is selling his provocative art for an obscene amount of money at the moment, there are millions of people getting all creative & making arty looking things for all sorts of reasons all over the world at the moment, some of them sell for thousands of dollars, some end up in the local thrift shop a few years later when that particular style is not the "In" thing anymore & no longer matches the fresh coat of paint on the walls & the new furniture... some art is perennial...<br />I love this talk by Elizabeth Gilbert from her TED talk on creativity-<br />http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html<br />it gives me heart to just keep going as does seeing your raven & crane paintings, beautiful, sensitive, mysterious art, thank you for sharing.Mo Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09004208849028911104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-37556805970991819812012-04-07T16:27:49.650-04:002012-04-07T16:27:49.650-04:00hello dear sharmon... i'm just now seeing thi...hello dear sharmon... i'm just now seeing this post... <br /><br />it doesn't seem possible that there could be a definitive answer to the question "what is art?" i know this - aelita's paintings certainly do make my eyes smile!! i just know that i want to make my own art (which my mother certainly doesn't think is art ; ).<br /><br />i *loved* 'exit through the gift shop'! a brilliant look at this perennial question!<br /><br />xoxolynne hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682812765012431260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-54423616527935855162012-04-05T15:58:47.451-04:002012-04-05T15:58:47.451-04:00Ok well there's a nice fun topic for today! He...Ok well there's a nice fun topic for today! Here's my unqualified two cents.. I don't think toddlers or elephants make Art, I think intention is important, and I would say the toddler has a chance to someday make art, whereas the elephant sadly will not. I have written a bit about art and meaning on my own blog, but essentially I think that creativity separates us from all other species. I think our society is so enamored with novelty that we often mistake promotion for talent. Mozart might have been a child genius, but he didn't produce a masterpiece until his young adult years, and like that young lady he initially had a lot of help from his dad who transcribed his music until he could write it out for himself. I think it is wonderful that the parents of these children can afford to encourage them, but I don't think they are making art yet!debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834018169331318619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-37103130899878261162012-04-05T08:11:34.612-04:002012-04-05T08:11:34.612-04:00Gwen, I too feel more in tune with what Kevin says...Gwen, I too feel more in tune with what Kevin says about art. I think you make an important point, though; it can also be a communication of emotions or ideas... Hmm, maybe I should add that...<br /><br />Angela- Wow! When you said 'horse artist', I thought at first that you meant someone who paints horses. I don't know how you manage to keep a sense of humor about it- I'm not sure I could if my work was hanging next to it. If you watch that video about the elephants on YouTube, you'll see that there are LOTS of animal artists, including dolphins. Also, if you look closely, you'll see that the handlers have a metal hook in the elephant's lip which they use to guide him/her. It's all very strange, but in the end art is, as you say, whatever you like. Reminds me of the old saying, "I don't know what art is, but I know it when I see it."<br /><br />Hi Sus,<br />I love both those quotes! I agree about having a sense of humor; as a special ed. teacher, I've had to develop a pretty good one to survive. Thanks for stopping by and thinking with me.<br /><br />Hi Julie! I've always thought intention was important, too; however, Kevin Cornell's statement about things becoming art also seems valid. maybe the intention can belong to either the maker or the viewer? thanks for sharing your thoughts!Sharmon Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857659019638341374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-65012176777284223862012-04-04T15:13:16.093-04:002012-04-04T15:13:16.093-04:00Awesome post! I'm going to tweet this. I wou...Awesome post! I'm going to tweet this. I would really have to think to give a good answer, but the one word I have always thought of is "intention." But your post really makes me think about that too...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-49551018087291425442012-04-04T11:27:57.900-04:002012-04-04T11:27:57.900-04:00Your post gives lots to think about, Sharmon.
Fo...Your post gives lots to think about, Sharmon. <br />For me, art-making is an essential activity, how I stay grounded in my sense of self and Other. <br />I agree with Angela, a sense of humor is essential in keeping perspective. <br />Two quotes come to mind: <br />'Art is anything you can get away with'. -Andy Warhol<br />and<br />' If it's good, it's art. If it's not, who cares"? -Picasso<br />Anyway, an important topic and glad you got us thinking! -susAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17790734873076989843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-25590965725337262382012-04-04T10:28:40.557-04:002012-04-04T10:28:40.557-04:00I think about this so often. . . It's all ju...I think about this so often. . . It's all just so subjective, isn't it? Simplified to its essence, it's this, I think: If you like it, for whatever reason, it's art. If you don't, it's not.<br /><br />Currently, I have some work hanging in the same place as a locally well-known horse "artist." The horse and his art are very popular. I just wonder how well the horse would paint if his owner didn't help him every step of the way. . . I've decide to maintain a sense of humor about it all. Most of the time, anyway.angela recadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01171018304392191669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9162234011271401496.post-23170902198687467982012-04-04T08:35:56.870-04:002012-04-04T08:35:56.870-04:00Good post Sharmon... as I was reading this I was t...Good post Sharmon... as I was reading this I was thinking what is Art to me? and I began writing "Art is different things to different people " it is not just the creation or the ideas that inspired the artist to create it, it is not the technique or the medium... but what we perceive as something that intrigues us and makes us feel a certain way when we see it or are around it.... it can be anything we find that triggers something in us to react... some that grabs our emotions.. it can even be a stick or a rock or anything happenstance that nature puts before us..... then I read the excerpt you have included from Kevin Cornell and agree totally. <br />Art is many splendored things! Thanks!Gwen Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13410235558740636534noreply@blogger.com