Craig Dunn Clark on mon 12 jan 04
Vince, I do not bemoan the lack of a specific definition of ART. I do
not believe that any such definition currently exists. I also realize that
by making this statement I am implying that I have some type of criteria for
determining whether or not a definition could eventually come along that
would indeed work (I am also aware of the contradictions that are occuring
in the thought process.)
I imagine such as definition to be kinda like a universal field or super
string thoery of ART....ya know it's gonna blow most of us away before we
even begin to understand what is being said. Trying to define ART is like
trying to define GOD in my opinion.The fun for me is in the speculation. My
levels of understanding and appreciation of that which we often refer to as
ART are fluid.
Everytime I swear off the stuff I find myself falling back into these
discussions again. I have avoided them like the plague here on ClayArt. Not
that I think these discussions are in any way bad, misguided, off topic or a
detriment to those who are inclined to join the debate. Indeed, I think they
are quite healthy.
When it comes to clay I have repeatedly stated to folks who look at my
pots and started talking about my ART that I'm not an artist. I tell them
I'm a craftsman. I probably hold the general world of craft in higher regard
than I do the art world so the explanation of this is not that difficult for
me. I can talk about the line of a pot and it's relationship to the overall
form more readily than I am able to get into these esoteric discussions
about ART.
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vince Pitelka"
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: art is art
> > What I was reacting to was my own continuing difficulties with what
I
> > often percieve as pretentious and academic discussions concerning ART
> > without so much as a word in the direction of an agreeable definition.
> > After all, and this is the first question posited in any philosophy
of
> > art class, what is ART anyway?
>
> Yes, Craig, the first question asked, and the last one answered. In fact,
> it cannot be answered, because to define what art is just limits what it
can
> be. I know how frustrating that seems. But it is the reality of art in
the
> contemporary world, and thank god for that. It opens up a universe of
> possibilities. So please do not bemoan the lack of an agreeable
definition.
> God forbid we should ever come with an agreeable definition of art.
> Personally, I think that agreeable definitions of art only appear when an
> indidual or a select group are put in a position of such power that they
are
> allowed to agree upon their own definition, and the masses are forced to
> accept that definition without question, as was the case with the
> propagandistic art of the Third Reich, Soviet Russia, and
> post-Cultural-Rebellion Communist China.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
> http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
>
>
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