What Do You Consider Art?

This is a question that has been posed many times throughout history - in high school and college art classes, among philosophers and scholars. Many terms, subjects, and titles attach the word "art" to them, such as: culinary arts, decorative arts, language arts, martial arts. Do these terms involve design elements? Yes, as well as precision, skill, and knowledge of history and practice.   

What do we most commonly think of to be art?  Visual arts - painting, drawing, sculpture, photography; decorative arts - design - interior, graphic, architecture, landscape; and theatrical arts - music, singing, dancing, and acting.

What do I consider art?  All of the above and much more. In a college paper, I argued that the design on toilet paper is art. Art, whichever kinds you subscribe to, make our lives more enjoyable and tolerable. There's even "the art of living", which to me means finding beauty and pleasure in everything we do.  Lets put that into practice this long weekend and collectively spread our joy to the masses with the intention of a less stressed society. 

Big Wheels Keep on Turnin'

The last few weeks, I just haven't felt very creative or inspired. This afternoon, I looked at all the driftwood waiting to be turned into sculptures by my backdoor. Each piece has an assigned purpose, but I haven't felt like working on any of that lately. Need a break.

Walking around Barnes and Noble this afternoon, I was over-stimulated in the art book section - no surprise there - from the printmaking and the fabric/sewing/DIY books. I've decided I want to get a screen printing kit. It's a new medium for me and has so many possibilities for use, and will work in nicely with sewing projects whenever I get started with that.

There's also a building for rent in Old Mandeville that has a lot of potential for multiple studios, a gallery, et al - thinking about my business idea here.  The rent isn't bad at all, but it's also not something I can afford on my own.  Wheels are turning.....

One of the fun books discovered at B&N today

It's Everywhere You Want to Be

Basically, if I wanted to submit art to contests all the time or comprise my social life of just art events, I could.  There are art events happening all the time!  If I'd pay attention I could enter cool things like this, which closed for entries yesterday.  There was something else, maybe last October, that called for art that was influenced by Louisiana's coastal waterways - totally could have entered my upcycled fish into that.  What happens instead is that work, my personal life, and home projects take precedence.  None of those things are bad.  They just keep me busy and I forget to enter these contests.  Sometimes I over-think things and make up excuses.  One day, if it's meant to be, I'll really get myself out there.  It's not like there's anything to lose, and I may even win some money.  Can definitely always use that!  In the meantime, just keep up with my art on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and on here.  Have a good week!

My Two Cents