My friend, Rachelle, wrote about art in her 365 Days of Coaching newsletter today. It reminded me of how difficult it is to define art. And the closer I get to art, the more I know about it, the further away I am from that definition.
I’m probably more inclusive as to what is art than most people–even artists. I like, however, to emphasize that it needs to be a deliberate process by a human being. And I think it’s critical to differentiate nature/beauty/art. They are not all the same thing.
It’s up to us to educate everyone else, especially since most people have not had even the most basic art appreciation course.
Some quotes of note:
"I would like to know if anyone has ever seen a natural
work of art. Nature and art, being two different things, cannot be the same
thing. Through art we express our conception of what nature is
not."–Pablo Picasso
work of art. Nature and art, being two different things, cannot be the same
thing. Through art we express our conception of what nature is
not."–Pablo Picasso
"What is art? . . . art is the deliberate creation
of aesthetic sensations. Art is a work of a human being, not of nature. It is
not accidental. It produces something that is perceived through the senses and
results in a personal emotional experience."–G. Ellis Burcaw, Introduction
to Museum Work, page 66
of aesthetic sensations. Art is a work of a human being, not of nature. It is
not accidental. It produces something that is perceived through the senses and
results in a personal emotional experience."–G. Ellis Burcaw, Introduction
to Museum Work, page 66
". . . it is the conscious, deliberate production of an
event or object of beauty (or emotional import) by a human being, employing not
only the skill of the craftsman, but in addition, an element of
creativity–original, inventive, instinctive, genius. An art object is an
aesthetic artifact, deliberately created.
event or object of beauty (or emotional import) by a human being, employing not
only the skill of the craftsman, but in addition, an element of
creativity–original, inventive, instinctive, genius. An art object is an
aesthetic artifact, deliberately created.
Art actually lies in the act of creation, not in its
result."–G. Ellis Burcaw, Introduction to Museum Work, page
66
