What is "art"?

[Rick Hughes]

What do you think art is and what it isn't? Is something "art" simply because an artist says it?

[Rick Hughes]

I think that saying visual art reaches places that the written word cannot is too broad. It implies that all art and words are created equally. Some visual art keeps me standing there, eyes wandering, checking out every inch for a long time. Other visual art commands nothing more than a glance. I have never been moved to tears (scared me or made me laugh out loud) by visual art, yet many books have been able to draw me in, capture my imagination and make me feel and experience the action as if I was there. So, for me, words can touch feelings deeper than art. But then, by this very discussion... it seems that words (books and poems) are not being considered art... I think they are; equally, yet distinctly different.

[The Village Bookshop]

well said, chief.

Rick Hughes said:

I think that saying visual art reaches places that the written word cannot is too broad. It implies that all art and words are created equally. Some visual art keeps me standing there, eyes wandering, checking out every inch for a long time. Other visual art commands nothing more than a glance. I have never been moved to tears (scared me or made me laugh out loud) by visual art, yet many books have been able to draw me in, capture my imagination and make me feel and experience the action as if I was there. So, for me, words can touch feelings deeper than art. But then, by this very discussion... it seems that words (books and poems) are not being considered art... I think they are; equally, yet distinctly different.

[Elizabeth]

I shall elaborate on my prior statement in this way.

Visual art for me, gains access more easily to, profound and significant feelings than mere descriptive words have done.

Granted it is a broad description to say, "visual art reaches places that the written word cannot" although I was referring rather to the spoken word. I hadn't personally brought literary endeavors into our discussion as yet, but am glad it was done. Not that the written word can not paint an abstract picture mind you, or convey certain feelings through phrase turn. I still think there is something deeper that is reached, something undefinable by prior point of reference that a word would require. That a color, or line, or stroke, or composition gets to.


Rick Hughes said:

I think that saying visual art reaches places that the written word cannot is too broad. It implies that all art and words are created equally. Some visual art keeps me standing there, eyes wandering, checking out every inch for a long time. Other visual art commands nothing more than a glance. I have never been moved to tears (scared me or made me laugh out loud) by visual art, yet many books have been able to draw me in, capture my imagination and make me feel and experience the action as if I was there. So, for me, words can touch feelings deeper than art. But then, by this very discussion... it seems that words (books and poems) are not being considered art... I think they are; equally, yet distinctly different.

[Lee Shore Gallery/Christina Lee]

This discussion is getting quite interesting. I agree with everyone's statements. As Elizabeth said about visual art, a bold vivid blown glass vase or a fused glass bowl speaks deeply to me. Sometimes a painting or a sculpture, a piece of jewelry, or a piece of pottery speak boldly to me, and they possibly say more than any written words could say. But then I agree with Doug and Rick, words on a page can paint a bold, vivid statement to me too. I good novel will keep me spell bound for days, reading it every minute I have a chance. Painting the story, the picture in my mind, and that is art. I guess this gets back to my original statement about art being Creation at it's best. It never stops amazing me that I can take a piece of glass, fuse it together and come out with a pendant, a plate or a bowl. Or take a glass rod and melt it under a torch and create a bead. The creation process fascinates me no end. That applies to all the things I have created over the years, sewing, pottery, glass, metal working and more. The finished product pleases me greatly. To take create something beautiful, then to have another person love that piece too and buy it from me, wow! Sometimes it is hard selling my jewelry, hard to part with the pieces, because they are like my children of whom I birthed, I created. Yet it also pleases me that someone else enjoys wearing the piece as much as I did creating it.