Re: [Leica] On making Art

[Jim Hemenway <Jim@hemenway.com>]

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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