Earl Brunner on wed 8 sep 99
My definition of art is probably too strict. I suppose I'm talking about that
quality that makes something especially special. We all have it happen once in
a while. Those pots that everyone was talking about putting behind the couch
and fondling.--
Vince Pitleka had some good responses today to my definition of art that I think
are certainly relevant.
If you read a couple of my other posts, one with a quote from Marguerite
Wildenhain
her Chapter 8 on the pursuit of excellence in art
education should be required reading for all art educators.
One of my favorite quotes:
(pg70) "We all know that it takes about eight or nine years to become a doctor,
and that's only the beginning of a career, not the end of it. An artist too
will require at least an equivalent in time, effort, devotion, and real
knowledge, in artistic understanding, experience and discrimination. As it so
often is nowadays, teaching positions are offered to teachers in a field that
they have never studied, with, of course, disastrous results for the students.
It is only because bad painting, coarse sculpture, insipid metal work, and
miserable potting do not actually kill anybody that this misuse of mediocre or
badly trained teachers in all fields of art has not been widely aired in
public"
and another one from Walter Gropius founder of the Bauhaus school of design,
"Architects, sculptors, painters, we must all turn to the crafts. Art
is not a profession, there is no essential difference between the artist
and the craftsman. In rare moments of inspiration, moments beyond the
control of his will, the grace of heaven may cause his work to blossom
into art. But proficiency in his craft is essential to every artist.
Therein lies the source of creative imagination."
I think that is at the foundation of my definition of art.
In "A Potter's Companion" there is an article by Harry Davis, "An Historical
Review of Art, Commerce and Craftsmanship" pg 98. He makes the case that
"artists" didn't really exist until the Renaissance at which case economics
essentially separated the fine arts from the crafts, purely on the basis of
commerce and it's gone down hill since then (at least for us craftspeople). I
guess I take the position that fine art tends to be overrated.
I'm not a great believer in the art for art's sake movement.
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
mailto:bruec@anv.net
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