Re: [Leica] On making Art

["Steve Barbour" <kididdoc@cox.net>]

yup, a bit like serendipity in science...what is ultimately MOST
important is what you LEAST expect, therefore not predictable even by
consensus of "experts"....Steve

> If everyone here can agree on a definition of what is art, the
> definition is probably not worth the 0s and 1s with which it's
written.
> ;-)


> You're right!
>
> Form, method, technique...   all the same to me.
>
> Jim - http://www.hemenway.com
>
>
> Peterson Arthur G NSSC wrote:
>
> > Reading Phong's comment ("Art is an expression of our
> feelings,
> > among other things") and Jim's reply ("Art is the expression of an
> > emotion through a technique"), one might at first prefer to say,
"Art
> > is the expression of emotion through a form"---whether that form
were
> > an arrangement of words in a poem or a novel, an arrangement of
light
> > and color in a picture, or an arrangement of sounds in a symphony
or a
>
> > sonata.  But perhaps that definition should be carried a step
further,
>
> > addressing strictly what art is, without reference to what it
> > (supposedly) expresses. Archibald MacLeish ended his poem "Ars
> > Poetica" with the apt lines, "A poem should not mean / But be"
> > [emphasis added]; and as Igor Stravinsky once explained, "Music
can
> > express nothing---that is my conviction---it can express only
itself."
>
> > So one might say, "A work of art is an object that expresses
itself
> > through its form."
> >
> > Art Peterson
> > Alexandria, Virginia
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jim Hemenway [mailto:Jim@hemenway.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 11:16 AM
> > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> > Subject: [Leica] On making Art
> >
> > Hi Phong:
> >
> > > Art is an expression of our feelings, among other
> things. <
> >
> > Okay so far as it goes, but consider this definition:
> >
> > Art is the expression of an emotion through a technique.
> >
> > Most would say, -through a valid technique.  But what is
> valid to
> > one
> > person may not be to another.  The oil coloring
> described in Tina's
> > post
> > must have been valid to the instructor but surely wasn't
> to Tina.
> >
> > The technique can be drawing and painting, sculpture,
> photography,
> > etc.,
> > but it can also be things such as dance, poetry, weaving
> and in some
> > cases being silly... as in a "live" installation.
> >
> > What makes any of it great art is acceptance as such, by
> a broad
> > range
> > of people.
> >
> > Art is really "a la carte", pick what you like, try
> something new,
> > and/or complain about everything else... which is what
> we've
> > been doing.
> >
> > Jim - http://www.hemenway.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Phong wrote:
> > >
> > > Art is an expression of our feelings, among other
> things. The only
> > > thing I ask is that such expression be genuine (Nan
> > Goldin, e.g.).
> > > If such feelings is about our libido, ego,
> > self-indulgence, etc.
> > > should there be no place for them in art ?  Should art
> be
> > only
> > > about "good", acceptable feelings ?  And I expect much
> of
> > art,
> > > genuine art, to be incoherent, sometimes even
> > incomprehensible.
> > >
> > > There is art, and there is the business of art.  If
> the
> > public is
> > > stupid enough to pay for the art, don't blame only the
> > artist.
> > > And I don't think artists would treat you as ignorant
> > Philistine
> > > just because you don't like their art.  Just don't put
> > down something
> > > you don't understand.  You put them down, or they
> think
> > you might put
> > > them down, and they'll treat you as ignorant
> Philistine.
> > >
> > > In any case, I am always suspect of successful
> > professional artists,
> > > going back to da Vinci.   I can respect and admire
> their
> > talent,
> > > but their art, as an genuine expression, is suspect.
> > Whose art
> > > is it anyway ?  But hey, one has to make a living, a
> good
> > one if
> > > possible.
> > >
> > > Just my narrow view on art,
> > >
> > > - Phong
> > >
> > > Whose art is it anyway ?  Of course, at some point,
> the
> > viewer
> > > assumes the work of art as an expression of his or her
> > feelings too.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
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>
>
>
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