what is Art

[iowasculptor]

I was just wondering if any of you have come up with a good definition of Art. Is it the object? Is it the process? Is it the idea? Is it the experience? What makes it different than what the rest of the world does? I think as sculptors and artists we should be able to have a discussion about the thing that we do and be able to agree about what it is that we do. Another question is what function does art serve? feel free to chime in on this one

[Stephen Casey]

What:
The sustainable communication of one sentient being to at least one other being or even to ones-self while in a differant frame of mind; with an extra-ordinary understanding of an internal and or external enviroment.
Or in short; (Extra-ordinary communication of extra ordinary perception.)

Who:
The artist & viewer & often middle persons such as agent &/or exhibitionist.

[sculptor]

I was just wondering if any of you have come up with a good definition of Art. Is it the object? Is it the process? Is it the idea? Is it the experience? What makes it different than what the rest of the world does? I think as sculptors and artists we should be able to have a discussion about the thing that we do and be able to agree about what it is that we do. Another question is what function does art serve? feel free to chime in on this one

ART---jeez
I'm gonna step out on a limb here and take a wild guess that atleast 3,478,625,940,169 words have been written attempting to arrive at a succinct
definition

It has been written that art is "skill in performance acquired by experience, study and observation" (websters)

BUT-------------That ain't the 1/2 of it

ART is that which goes beyond necessity-----I believe that it starts with a love of quality----and flows to a striving for an act of creation that can inspire, uplift, enoble, and somehow free the observer from their normal existential constraints.

Frederick Hart said(approximately)
"I believe that art has a moral responsibility, that it must pursue something higher than itself. Art must be a part of life. It must exist in the domain of the common man. It must be an enriching, ennobling and vital partner in the public pursuit of civilization. It should be a majestic presence in everyday life just as it was in the past"

Art is the product and process, the beginning and the ending, the real and the imagined, the subject and the object, perception and conception, the conscious, subconscious, and supraconscious, all bundled together and wrapped in an experiential understanding on the edge of a dream.

gee, I hope this makes sense
Rod(sculptor)

P.S. as re:
function--------what Hart said

[rderr.com]

Art is provocation. All else is decoration.

Ardor Order

[sculptor]

Art is provocation. All else is decoration.

Ardor Order

I really do not mind if some folks see my art as decoration-------"'tain't no bad thang"

'course some folks have spoken of and censored my art as though it were best understood as a masturbatory aide----------

would that count as "provocation"?

also it has provoked some really perverted censors to either block access to some of my sculptures and websites, or remove certain works from their on-line galleries----eg: "cover your eyes dear---that statue has testicles" (eeeeek--ohhhh noooooooooooooooooo)

I'd just as soon forget the provocation aspect because of it's darker half and just get on with sharing my skill and talent and concepts of idealism, beauty, mythology and art.

"don't swim here, you might get cought in the undertow or cross currents"

where wuz I-----------
oh yes----provocation/decoration-----(sigh)(wish I knew how to type in a "bronx cheer")

rod(sculptor)

[Roy]

ART---jeez
Art is the product and process, the beginning and the ending, the real and the imagined, the subject and the object, perception and conception, the conscious, subconscious, and supraconscious, all bundled together and wrapped in an experiential understanding on the edge of a dream.

I have no formal education about art, but what sculptor said seem to resonate with me.

[rderr.com]

Dear Rod

To provoke is to force the mind to see beyond the thing done. It has naught of fisticuffs, farts, guffaws, or tears of either eye or sex.

Bob

[sculptor]

Dear Rod

To provoke is to force the mind to see beyond the thing done. It has naught of fisticuffs, farts, guffaws, or tears of either eye or sex.

Bob

hi Bob:

"To provoke is to force the mind to see beyond the thing done."

I much prefer this definition to websters
esp. as/re your above "Art is provocation. All else is decoration."

(a phrase for which, I have never felt an affinity, nor sympathy)

Till now

[kestonh]

I'm going to give the same definition of art that I gave so many years ago at SITO.org:

If you can't eat it or live in it, it's Art.

[rderr.com]

I'm going to give the same definition of art that I gave so many years ago at SITO.org: If you can't eat it or live in it, it's Art.

If you can't eat (without) it or (not, not) live (without) it, it's (a)rt; [end misquote]

Robert

[sculptor]

If you can't eat it or live in it, it's Art.

If you can't eat (without) it or (not, not) live (without) it, it's (a)rt; [end misquote]

Robert

You've obviously never tasted my spinach cheese crepes with mushroom and cream souce.....the culinary arts....speaking of which.....i think I'll turn this machine off, garb a couple bags, call the dog, and head for the woods---80º and raining lately.......

[anne (bxl)]

(Extra-ordinary communication of extra ordinary perception.)
I like this short and of course uncomplete definition because it includes the two main ingredients that makes art : language and senses.
When my autistic nephew draw, I guess this is pure art because that's the only way for him to communicate his extraordinary sensibility. On the opposite, when an artist became marketing minded (taking into account the mediatic and/or financial impact of his acts) I am not sure this is art anymore.....

[Wasan Khurshid]

When one human canvet his soul in stones, woods, on canvas, and in words,I think thats cald art.

wasan

[steponmebbbboom]

I see art as something whose solitary purpose is to stimulate conversation and imagination.

[Ted L Kirkland]

To me art resolves something on a personal level which otherwise may not be explained in words.

[chris]

i believe art is a tool for an emerging science.

chris.