Bob and Hulda on sat 3 oct 98
Do you know that 'art' is short for artificial -
Each person has an urge to be creative -the end product is appreciated or
rejected subjectively, depending on the viewer. Appreciation and rejection
are both actions on opposite sides - these actions are also creative - So
the creative now is the point -
So if art means artificial then we all must be at the same level. So let's
just enjoy doing, and forget about the rest.
Hulda,
from Ireland.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gavin Stairs
To:
Date: 01 October 1998 15:17
Subject: Re: What is Art? (was Unknown Craftsman)
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>At 11:38 AM 9/30/98 EDT, the discussion proceeded:
>...
>>>If either the creator of an object or the viewer of an object considers
>it to
>>>be art.....it is art.
>...
>>This definiton is so inclusive that it becomes meaningless,
>>but I'm not sure how to qualify or narrow it.
>...
>>Some questions:
>>I like the look of the load of gravel that was dumped on my driveway
>>so much that I'm leaving it for a while instead of spreading it out.
>>The truck driver couldn't care less how it looks; he just wanted to
>>dump it.
>>Is this art? Is the truck driver an artist?
>...
>
>Well, according to Marcel Duchamps, and others of his ilk, it is art if the
>artist defines it so. He "created" a series of what he called "ready
>mades", the most famous of which is probably "Fountain", by R. Mutt. This
>was a commercially made urinal, mounted on its back on a pedestal, and
>signed "R. Mutt". It was a scandal when it was exhibited in the Arsenal
>Show, I think, I forget the year. Prewar. The original has been lost, but
>a few reproductions exist, I believe.
>
>So, by this accounting, the pile of gravel can be an artwork, but the
>artist is not the truck driver, it is you, if you say so. This is what we
>mean by the term conceptual art, or at least where its origins lie. The
>impulse comes from Dada. Marcel Duchamp is at least one of its godfathers,
>if not its dada.
>
>Thus, at least half of the young woman's definition is on honored, if
>somewhat tricky, historical ground. There is a clear (at least clear to
>me) link with such later things as color field painting, and pop art.
>Photography can be considered a found art medium. Consider the theory of
>photography propounded by Alfred Eisenstat in "The Decisive Moment." He
>declares that the art lies in the choice of time and subject. etc. It is
>but a small step from this to the choice of calling a piece art or not art.
>
>Study the semioticians (if you can) to see how thoroughly confusing this
>can all get. I suppose academics have to deal with all this, but surely
>the rest of us don't. Surely what Duchamp and Dada are saying is that it
>is all arbitrary, and we must all make up our own minds.
>
>Gavin
>
>Gavin Stairs
>Stairs Small Systems (S3)
>921 College St., # 1-A
>Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6H 1A1
>(416)530-0419 stairs@stairs.on.ca
>
Steven Benezue on sun 4 oct 98
Have you ever considered that "Art" is short for "artifact: a
characteristic property of human activity: a hand made object, tool or
ornament representing a particular stage of culture or technological
development". If one considered art to be artificial, then why do it at all?
If we don't question and discuss our craft of making art, then it is in
danger of becoming stale and rote.
Cindy on tue 6 oct 98
Here's my contribution to the 'meaning of the word' discussion:
According to the Arcade "Dictionary of Word Origins", art comes from the
Indo-European root ar-, which means, "put things together, join." Putting
things together implies some skill; hence Latin ars 'skill.' Its stem art-
produced Old French art, the source of the English word. It brought with it
the notion of 'skill,' which it still retains; the modern association with
painting, sculpture, etc. did not begin until the mid 17th century. Latin
derivatives of ars include the verb artire 'instruct in various skills,'
from which ultimately English gets artisan; and artificium, a compound
formed with a variant of facere 'do, make,' from which we get artificial.
Just thought 'you all' might find this interesting.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm
----------
> From: Steven Benezue
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Re: Fw: Re: What is Art? (was Unknown Craftsman)
> Date: Sunday, October 04, 1998 1:22 PM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Have you ever considered that "Art" is short for "artifact: a
> characteristic property of human activity: a hand made object, tool or
> ornament representing a particular stage of culture or technological
> development". If one considered art to be artificial, then why do it at
all?
> If we don't question and discuss our craft of making art, then it
is in
> danger of becoming stale and rote.
>
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