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What is Art?

What is art? Does art have one specific form? If I paint something, but it never makes it into a museum, is it still art? Absolutely. Art is the ultimate form of expression. Sharing art is the ultimate risk. What do I think art is? I answered this at the beginning of the course, but to challenge myself I decided to not look at my post until after I write this blog. I wanted to see how my opinion of art changed, or if it hadn’t at all. I believe art is expressing. Whether that be an emotion, responding to an issue, or just out of pure boredom. Art is expressing the artist. Art shows a side of an artist that is not displayed for the world, immediately. Instead, art is something you need to look into, look deeper for. Or is it?

Sometimes, art is so blatantly obvious. For example, political cartoons. Yes, these cartoons are art. They are also expressing something. Whether it be positive or negative. The art is not easily mistaken. Other artists tend to respond to things, starting with an obvious issue but looking deeper into the art, seeing the different layers. A good example of art that is obvious to start, but holds a deeper meaning is art by Banksy. I had the honor of researching Banksy and seeing this first hand.

Now, I believe art is expression. What can art do? Besides releasing the emotions of an artist, art can move others to feel what the artist is feeling. Or even, move others to feel the opposite of what the artist is feeling. Better yet, the artist can almost force a viewer to acknowledge something. Again, Banksy is a great example of forcing the viewer to acknowledge something. Art can bring people together just as much as it can divide people. Art can tell stories. Hieroglyphics, although a language, is also a form of art. Telling stories and keeping history alive.

A common misconception about art, and artists, is that it has to be a ‘masterpiece’ to be considered art. Art doesn’t have to be perfect, art doesn’t have to have detail and shadows and all these complicated things in order for it to be art. Art can be something simple, simplicity is beautiful. Art can also be extremely overwhelming and busy. A misconception about artists, is that they’re all broke. Yes, working toward your dreams and goals of being an artist does mean you may have to make sacrifices, but not all artists are broke. The old “struggling starving artist” is an old tale at this point. Today, there are many ways to make money with art, but there are also ways to create while still making a living. It’s just a matter of working hard.

The role art plays in society can go a few ways. Art can bring people together and art can divide people. Art also is very obviously entertaining, with museums and exhibits. Art in society is also used in politics, as mentioned earlier with political cartoons. Art also is in the form of graffiti, and society views it as vandalism. Yet, if anyone in society ever tried to graffiti, their opinion might change. Needless to say, to go a day without seeing art is next to impossible. Art is everywhere in society.

Now, looking back at my old post and how I answered. I would say my opinion on art is still very similar as it was in the beginning of this course but now I have a more defined version. I still believe art is everywhere, I still believe art is an expression, and I still believe art does not have to be extremely complicated to be art. I still believe tattoos and makeup are amazing forms of art, and I’m still intrigued by society finally loosening what’s ‘normal’ and allowing expression to be everywhere. Once graffiti is legal, it will be a whole new ball game.

Personally, I love the art that is different. Tattoos, body modifications, makeup, hair, graffiti, fashion. I love expressing myself, and I love doing it through art. Some people aren’t good with words. I am one of those people. How I look, dress, everything…. I express myself through art. I could even go as far and say we, as humans, are art. Yes, you read that correctly. We are art. Our society, is art. Keep in mind, I never said art had to be good. Art can be ugly, art can be bad, art can be mean, art can be scary.

Art expresses, art feels, art moves. It is foolish to limit what art is and can be. To put a cap on the mind, to put a cap on a goal, is extremely dangerous. There is no limit when it comes to art. Art is what makes the world go round.

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Institutional critique

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Three.

Polynesia under Oceania.

           The islands inside the Polynesian Triangle is what Polynesia is primarily known as. Polynesia “is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean.” (Wikipedia.) While researching the early culture and art history of Polynesia, I found that up until 1600 A.D, Polynesia was among other cultures under the main title of Oceania. “The period from 1400 to 1600 sees the ongoing development of earlier artistic and architectural traditions as well as the first encounters between Europeans and the peoples of the Pacific.” (MetMuseum.) During this time monumental stone figures were still being made. These statues are also known as Moai, and are the reason I was attracted to researching Polynesian art.

 Moai.

           The Moai statues are what Polynesia is most famously known for, or the most famous art form. “Moai statues are massive megaliths at Easter Island…” (EasterIsalnd.travel.) Megalith by definition is “a large stone that forms a prehistoric monument or part of one.” The Moai statues live on the Easter Island therefore they are commonly known as the “Easter Island heads.” (EasterIsland.travel.) On Easter Island, around 1,000 statues can be found. “…up to 86 tons in weight and 10m in height, though average is around half of that.” (EasterIsland.travel.) These statutes, or Moai, were built to honor important people who had passed away, and were intended to “keep the appearance of the person it represented.” (EasterIsland.travel.) They were carved from the Rano Raraku volcano. “This location was chosen since it consists to a great extent of tuff… tuff is compressed volcanic ash and easy to carve.” (EasterIsland.travel.) The Moai figures were part of the Easter Island art culture until about 1650 A.D.

  Polynesia 1600 A.D.

           The years 1600 A.D. to 1800 A.D were very forming years for Polynesian cultures. “Pivotal events during this period are the three voyages of the English explorer James Cook between 1768 and 1780.” (MetMuseum.)  It was during these voyages Cook encountered the Polynesian people and cultures for the first time, as well as made “the first large-scale collections of Pacific objects to be brought back to Europe.” (MetMuseum.) Some believe that the interaction with Europe helped Polynesian art flourish. “…in addition to continuing earlier cultural traditions. The collections of European explorers during the period show that classical Polynesian art was indeed flourishing.” (Wikipedia Oceania.) Statues weren’t the only art form Polynesia was known for. “In 1771, when James Cook first returned to Tahiti and New Zealand from his first voyage, the word ‘tattoo’ appeared in Europe.” (Zealandtattoo.co.)

  Polynesia and Tattoos

          “Historically there was no writing in Polynesian culture so the Polynesian’s used tattoo art that was full of distinctive signs to express their identity and personality.” (Zealandtattoo.co.) Polynesians used tattoos to show their status in society, since the society was a hierarchy. The tattoos also represented sexual maturity and genealogy.  It is known that nearly all Polynesians were tattooed. Imagine that in our society today. Not only did the art of the tattoo matter, but placement was just as important. “There are a few elements that are related to specific meanings based on where they are placed. So in short, their placement has an influence on the meaning of a Polynesian tattoo.”(Zealandtattoo.co.) When James Cook told Europeans about tattoos in 1771, tattoos became widespread in Europe. “Another legend is that European sailors liked the Polynesian tattoos so much that they spread extremely fast in Europe because the sailors emblazoned the tattoos on their own bodies.” (Zealandtattoo.co.) Dwyane The Rock Johnson proudly shows off his Polynesian culture through his tattoo. 

  Polynesia 1800 A.D.

          It was during 1800 A.D. that Polynesian art had drastically changed. 1797 began the conversion to Christianity for Polynesian people. Between 1797 and 1840 A.D the majority of Polynesian sculptures were destroyed. “The conversion of Polynesian peoples to Christianity results in the destruction of much of Polynesia’s rich sculptural heritage, which missionaries and recent converts condemn as ‘idols.’ (Metmuseum.) During this time, Western technology is introduced to Polynesian art. “Equipped with newly acquired steel carving tools, many artists create exquisitely detailed works of immense artistic virtuosity and technical complexity, such as the intricately carved paddles of the Austral Islands...”(Metmuseum.)

  Polynesia 1900 A.D and On

          It was during this time, 1900 A.D., that Polynesian culture and art still lived. “Artists continue to practice a variety of art forms for their own use, including the production of barkcloth and mats as well as the creation of nonfigural wood carvings such as bowls and headrests. What figurative sculpture is produced during the first half of the century, however, is almost universally made for sale.” (MetMuseum.) This shows how Polynesian art had changed throughout time. From going to massive sculptures to honor those that have passed, to tattoos, to being sold to keep the culture alive.

Early Caribbean Art

           The Caribbean. Not only a beautiful, tropical vacation spot, but also home to the most beautiful pieces of art. The overall flow of the lifestyle brings a carefree, happy vibe. “Caribbean art, and its production of paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture, suggests an existence of different streams inside on big river. This comes as no surprise since the term Caribbean art defines the production of all the islands and artists whose heritage returns them back to the region.” (Silka P.) The Caribbean is made up of multiple islands, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamica, and Puerto Rico to name a few. The mix of all the cultures and people shape the history and identity of the Caribbean.

  Caribbean Influences 

          “Caribbean art reflects the region’s rich past and the various waves of migration. Incorporating different styles of European art with its own culture…”(Silka P.) The different people, histories, and cultures of the islands that make up the Caribbean have influenced the way art is created. “For many of the Caribbean countries, art in its more modern sense began when they became independent from their imperial overlords. For example, in Hait, Henri Christophe encouraged the development of art in the newly independent country in 1807.” (Schamotta.)

  Forms of Art

                   There are various forms of art in Caribbean culture. Not only painting, drawing, and sculptures, but the Caribbean’s expressed themselves through literature. “Of the various forms of art, Caribbean literature has been widely studied and appreciated.” (Schamotta.) Building on the different forms of art, dancing is another expression in the Caribbean. “Expressed during carnival, dance is the premiere performing art coming out of the Caribbean.” (Zander.) Probably the most known, or recognized, dance forms are the mambo, tango, and salsa. Among the performing arts, were also the visual arts. “Visual arts were a leisure pursuit in a region where the people had little or no leisure time.” (Zander.) It is difficult to say which form of art is most popular in the Caribbean. „Caribbean authors have referred to the concept as a ‘contested’ one, as art forms in the Caribbean can range from traditional paintings, sculptures, and performances, to…popular music, dance, and festivals.” (Mcintosh.)

  Colors of the Wind 

           A common theme looking at Caribbean art is beautiful, bright colors. “This form of painting works at the primary level of the senses using raw, vivid colors and a composition that celebrates freedom of expression and spontaneity.” (Schamotta.) This makes sense, because as stated earlier, the different Islands that make up the Caribbean enjoy their independence.  Again in my research the importance of color was brought up, this time though in reference to nature, and it’s beauty. “Its many colors are reflected back in the watercolors, paintings, and mural paintings which decorate the streets of Kingston.” (Silka P.) The Caribbean is not only full of life physically, but also with the vividness in the art.

Polynesia Sources:

“Easter Island Facts & Info.” Easter Island Travel - Your Ultimate Tourism Resource,      www.easterisland.travel/easter-island-facts-and-info/moai-statues/.

“Oceanian Art.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2018,  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanian_art.

“Oceania, 1400–1600 A.D. | Chronology | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan  Museum of Art.” The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/08/oc.html.

“Polynesia.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesia.

“Polynesia, 1600–1800 A.D. | Chronology | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The         Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History,          www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/09/ocp.html.

“Polynesia, 1800–1900 A.D. | Chronology | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The         Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History,          www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/10/ocp.html.

“Polynesia, 1900 A.D.–Present | Chronology | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The     Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History,          www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/11/ocp.html.

“Polynesian Tattoo: History, Meanings and Traditional Designs.” Zealand Tattoo, www.zealandtattoo.co.nz/tattoo-styles/polynesian-tattoo-history-meanings-traditional    designs/.

Caribbean Sources:

McIntosh, Jason. “PressReader.” PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News, 17 Feb.  2017, www.pressreader.com/jamaica/jamaica-gleaner/20170214/282952449950239.

P, Silka. “What Do We Know About Caribbean Art ?” Widewalls, 27 Sept. 2016,  www.widewalls.ch/caribbean-art-history/.

Schamotta, Justin, and Leaf Group. “Information on Art in the Caribbean.” USA Today, Gannett  Satellite Information Network, traveltips.usatoday.com/information-art-caribbean     23038.html.

Zander, Andrea M. “Art Forms in the Caribbean.” Our Pastimes, 15 Sept. 2017,    urpastimes.com/art-forms-in-the-caribbean-12510045.html.

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Two.

Fine arts vs. crafts. An argument that never crossed my mind until this class. Before researching this I decided to see how fine arts vs. crafts related to my life, and what I create. Ultimately I decided what I create is mainly crafts. Fine arts to me is more elegant, although not limited to merely oil on canvas. Fine art to me, is musical as well. Fine art can go as far as dancing, more specifically in my opinion, ballet. When I think of fine art, I think of a ball room full of people with flutes of champaign, while chit chat small talk drowns out the sounds of classical music playing in the background. Crafts is what grandma does on her rocking chair, knitting a scarf or cross-stitching a pillow. 

So the research begins. I lucked out and found a video by Ted-Ed titled “Is There a Difference Between Art and Craft? by Laura Morelli. Morelli starts the lesson by explaining the difficulty deciphering the differences between art and craft. “A spoon or a saddle may be finely wrought, while a monument may be...well... uninspired.” Eventually moving on to the history of this debate. Morelli explains that while it’s normal for us to consider DaVinci or Michelangelo extraordinary artists, Morelli says they “happen to live at the right place at the right time, because shortly before their lifetimes the concept of artists hardly existed.” It is discussed that in medieval times, every workshop looked the same. “Whether it was a work place for a stone mason, a goldsmith, hat maker, or fresco painter.” Morelli explains that each of these places, the employees were just crafting an item based off of basically a blue print by claiming they were “following a strict set of guild statutes.” These apprentices were following these rules in order to work their way up to eventually pass on what they have mastered to the next generation. Everyone who was creating something in these workshops were paid together, rather than separately. The ones who created or designed the work weren’t the ones who received credit for the work either. The customer who paid for the work was more likely to. Morelli teaches that “it wasn’t until around 1400 that people began to draw a line between art and craft.” She explains this started in Florence, Italy which is where Renaissance Humanism was born. This is where a group decided that original, individual creativity should be valued higher than reformed pieces. Morelli tells the story of the group of painters, who had previously been getting paid for square foot, who had petitioned to be paid on the basis merit and won. The transformation of how art was looked at was rapid and happened within a generation. Eventually, the creators of sculptures, paintings, and original pieces were considered artists. Whereas the creators reforming items, such as candle sticks and gold jewelry, were considered artisans. This is how the debate, and argument between the two became about. 

A second article I found was titled “Difference Between Art and Craft.” I originally wasn’t going to mention this article, and was going to find a different one but the comments on this article is the reason I chose it. First the article explains; “Art is often described as unstructured and open ended. It has no limitations of expression, just like in painting. Craft on the other hand is structured, which means that it has a certain form that is visible.” This seemed to make sense at first. Usually when I am cross-stitching I am following a blue-print. I haven’t created my own blue-print for a design yet, so technically cross-stitching is a craft. When I am creating a video, the techniques I use are skills I have learned over-time. According to this article that is what a craft is. I thought of other times, like when I’m painting or drawing with charcoal. Usually I consider this art because I am allowing my emotions and feelings draw what I comes to mind. I literally just follow the flow of my hand. I don’t go into art with a blue-print in mind. 

The reason this article made in into my blog post is because while I seemed to agree with what the article was saying, the comments section did not. Most people were upset. Someone writes “it is ridiculous to say craft requires no emotion and only acquired skill... The distinction between art and craft is one of elitism-made by social intellectuals to make themselves appear smarter than the rest of us.” Many seemed to agree with this commenter, some even claiming “to even try to draw a distinction between these two expressions is snooty at best.” Some commenters even point out that “in filmmaking...Many directors have craft, but few are artists.”  I decided I had to look deeper into what is happening when I’m cross-stitching, because that seems to be the materials I reach for most at the moment. While I’m actually following a design, I feel calm. My anxiety is low, and I feel at peace. As I see the design come to life in front of me, I feel excited. I am happy. I feel good. There is definitely emotion behind my craft. Although, these emotions aren’t me expressing the emotion. These emotions are from the result of cross stitching. The same goes for my video editing, as of right now. It’s too early in these crafts for me to allow myself to consider them an art. I still can’t see myself agreeing with the people in the comments. Art is expressing, craft is structured. 

A contemporary artist I discovered while researching artists blurring the lines between art and craft, was Matt Mullins. Mullins creates pieces of art and uses craft techniques to do so. In the article, Mullins explains “With craft makers, there is often a preconceived idea of what the end result will be...art calls for more experimentation and intuitiveness. With my work, I have a general idea of two aspects: the outcome of the pattern and the painting of the landscape. The mystery then lies in the combination, bringing the two together.” (Baca.) Below is a piece by Matt Mullins, titled Chicoma. 

A second artist I found while researching artists blurring these lines between arts and crafts was Karen LaMonte. LaMonte creates pieces by sculpting glass. I found this extremely interesting, because glass blowing didn’t even come to mind when I was researching. That is a mix of both art and craft. It’s a skill that is learned and acquired but there’s also a beautiful artistry behind it. 

Sources: 

Baca, David. “Matt Mullins: Blurring the Lines Between Art and Craft with Form & Concept Gallery.” KS Arts Marketing & Writing, 26 Oct. 2016, ksartsmarketing.com/blog/matt-mullins-form-and-concept.

S, Prabhat. “Difference Between.” Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 14 Jan. 2011, www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-art-and-craft/.

“The Lines Are Blurring Between Craft and Fine Art .” Mosaic Art Now , www.mosaicartnow.com/2010/04/the-lines-are-blurring-between-craft-and-fine-art/.

YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=316.

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The Art Institute of Chicago

I’ve lived within 45 minutes of Chicago all of my life. As much as I wish I could say attending museums was a common Saturday for me, it’s not. It took a while for my appreciation for arts to really take place, but I am getting there now. The Art Institute of Chicago was a beautiful museum, and I actually enjoyed my time.

           My boyfriend and I Lyfted from his apartment in Wrigleyville to the Michigan Avenue entrance of The Art Institute of Chicago. Upon our arrival, there was a line out the door. Something I was definitely not expecting, but I should have known better since it was a Saturday afternoon. Oh well. We got in line and waited. Once we got through the line and entered the museum, we started with the lower level. The first exhibit (is that what we’re going to call it? Display maybe? I don’t know) we saw was the Photography exhibit. Photography is one of my favorite arts, I love being behind the camera as well as in front of it. Stranger (9) from Dear Stranger drew me in immediately. A blonde woman is standing in front of her window, and someone is photographing her from outside. I read further into this piece and discovered the artist, Shizuka Yokomizo, chose random ground-level apartments in multiple cities, and sent the owners a letter asking them to stand in front of their window, remain still in their typical clothes if they were willing to participate in her series. They would be photographed from outside, and only see a silhouette of the photographer. The photograph drew me in to begin with, then reading the story behind it made me really think. I was so intrigued by the creativity behind the series, as well as the willingness of strangers to participate.

           Next, we made our way to another viewing area. This time, we entered doors and were greeted with a room full of tiny rooms. I was immediately thrilled. I love tiny things, I think they are so cute. I also love doll-houses for some reason, so this viewing area was sure to be fun for me. The detail in each room, connecting to the room next to it, was so amazing. It was so cool to see. I’m used to art being a canvas, or photo, so experiencing it in the form of a tiny room was fun for me. It also slightly reminded me of “Fallen Star 1/5” by Do Ho Suh, which was part of this weeks assignment. The connection to my current life in a way that was different than I expected, was a reason I was drawn to the Virginia Dining Room. I loved the tiny chandelier, the red curtains, that worked with the red accent chairs. Red is one of my favorite colors, I love tiny things, and my name is Virginia, this room is all for me.

           My boyfriend and I decided to go to the very top floor of the museum, and work our way down. So that’s what we did. We got off the elevator and saw the European Art Before 1900. This was definitely my least favorite. The whole top floor, was just not what I enjoyed in art. I’m not interested in Impressionism, or European Art before 1900. I don’t know that I am into any art before 1900 to be honest. I like contemporary art, modern art, pop art. I tried to force myself to enjoy the area though. Eventually, I found a piece that I actually liked. “Head of a Guillotined Man” by Jean-Louis-André-Théodore Géricault. First, this drew my attention because it was very zombie-like. I love zombies. The detail in this oil on panel painting was admirable. I read the side-card and learned the artist often was able to get the heads of dead people and bring them to his studio in order to paint them. I enjoyed the oddity behind this piece.  

           During this time, exploring the museum with my boyfriend I was getting antsy. The wing we were on was boring to me, it wasn’t the art I was into. I was starting to believe there wasn’t any contemporary, or modern art, in the building at all. Until we stumbled upon the Modern Wing. Finally. I was struggling to find a piece I wanted to spend 15 minutes with. I didn’t want to do spend time with something that I didn’t want to look at, I wanted something to find and feel. Not just stare at full of boredom. I turned the corner, and there it was. “Picture of Dorian Gray.” By Ivan Albright. I’ve never read the book, but I do enjoy some Oscar Wilde quotes, so I decided this was the piece. I set the timer on my phone and took a step back. I stared. I examined the painting. The oil on canvas. Very obviously the image is a zombie-like man. I started wishing I read the book so I could understand, and relate to this piece even more. My mind wandered. I wonder what the book is about. I wonder how this correlates to the book. I wonder why Albright chose to make Dorian Gray a zombie. Or was he a zombie in the book? I’m not sure. I stared more. My eyes wandered all over the piece. The colors were beautiful, the piece almost seemed to glow. It looked as if everything had a light aura around it. The oil painting blended beautifully together. It felt so whimsical at first glance, when you look deeper into it you realize it’s a zombie image. Everything in the painting is rotting. I started to think about the smells. Where I was standing it didn’t smell at all. How did it smell inside of the painting? Well, take into consideration the age of the painting. 1943. How would something or someone born in 1943 smell? Probably musky. Add to the muskiness, the smell of mold, or even rotting flesh. I couldn’t imagine what that smells like. I started to feel more curious. I decided to look at the painting in an analytical way. I started from the top left and moved to the right as if I was reading a book. It felt as if the images in the background of the piece were spinning, almost as if they were in some type of galaxy-black hole thing. I started to feel dizzy. I was staring at this piece for so long. Every time I looked away and looked back I noticed something new. The flowers on the curtain-like floor, the black cat that looked horrified, the rotting flesh of the hand, the expression on Dorian Gray’s face. Finally, my timer went off. I felt relieved, I felt as if my energy was sucked out. That was rough.

           I moved to the next room in the contemporary side of the museum. My eyes were greeted with a fun painting titled “Nightlife” by Archibald J. Motley Jr. I was excited looking at this. I felt happy, I felt as if I could hear the music of the bar, the chatter of the crowd, the laughter. I felt as if I were having a good time with the people in the painting. The vibrancy of the painting, the unique shapes, the forefront being empty. It felt inviting. I was very happy this piece was the one I saw after feeling my energy be sucked up. Everything about this piece was fun to me. I read the side card. I learned Motley used ‘a dynamic composition and heightened colors to express the liveliness of the scene.” Mission definitely accomplished there, Motley.

           The final piece I decided to use as my criticism analysis, was the iconic “Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper. This oil on canvas piece is legendary. I’ve seen it all over the place, I’ve seen movies recreate the image, TV shows, even photospreads. This was the piece. It was much larger than I had ever imagined. Seeing it in real life, up close. I was shocked by the size. Then, I was surprised at the simplicity of it. For some reason, I felt it would be more detailed. It was very basic. Flat colors, but there was still dimension. The shadows in the piece gave the vibe of an empty city night, which was Hoppers goal. The glow of the diner, on the right side of the painting lightened it up. It felt clear, the windows were beautifully painted, you couldn’t see they were there, but you knew. Talent. The side card explains that the relationship of the four subjects are unknown. I created a story for them myself. Clearly, the man behind the counter is working the diner, it looks as if he is washing dishes while talking to the couple. The couple just met at a bar. They decided to escape the volume and crowd to get to know each other a little better. The woman, looking at her nails and the man smoking a cigarette. They seem to be having a night cap. They want to know each other more. The man alone at the bar, is just that. He’s had his night-out but he’s done now. Grabbing a bite to eat before heading home for the night. That’s what he wants us to think. He’s actually an undercover cop, it my theory anyways.

           I had a great time at the Art Institute and I plan on going again soon, maybe when it’s much less busy though.

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One.

Aesthetics. A word I have been fond of for years. Probably not for the reasons you may think. I have always loved makeup, cosmetics....aesthetics. I’ve wanted to be an aesthetician for the majority of my adulthood. Still do. As I’ve grown in my journey, aesthetics has taken on more meaning to me. Aesthetic. I have an aesthetic. You have an aesthetic. A website has an aesthetic. A room has an aesthetic. Aesthetic is deeper than a theme. It’s a look. It’s a vibe. It’s an aesthetic. The aesthetic I am drawn to can be completely different than what you are drawn to. Does that make my preferred aesthetic ugly to you? Does that make your preferred aesthetic inferior to mine? Absolutely not. Aesthetic, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I prefer the grunge-punk aesthetic, by the way.

Art and beauty. Is all art beautiful? Is all beauty art? Philosophy Now has a fantastic article, or perhaps we should call in a forum, going deeper into this discussion, the relationship between art and beauty. Joseph Nieters writes on the forum; “Art is something we do, a verb. Art is an expression of our thoughts, emotions, intuitions, and desires, but it is even more personal than that: it’s about sharing the way we experience the world, which for many is an extension of personality......Beauty is rather a measure of affect, a measure of emotion......But neither the artist nor the observer can be certain of successful communication in the end. So beauty in art is eternally subjective.” (Philosophy Now.) Now, I feel this is beautifully put. Art is indeed something we do, it is an expression of our thoughts and even how we see the world. Beauty, I would agree is subjective. But I believe art and beauty have a deeper connection. I do believe they are related more than just “art is beautiful.” I do believe art is beautiful, even if it’s a piece I am not fond of, it’s still beautiful someone created something.

Maybe that’s it though, maybe I see the beauty in creating, more than the art. Maybe that’s the relationship between art and beauty. The art is the end game, the beauty is the creative process surrounding it. That could be what makes art beautiful, in my opinion. Because we don’t have the same taste, same style, same aesthetic.... maybe we won’t have the same reason as to what makes art beautiful. Although, society seems to have a basic guideline as what is considered beautiful. Notice keyword: guideline. The norm. What they want you to believe is beautiful. In the past, these guidelines were more drawn out, more in your face. Luckily, as times change we allow new beauty to these guidelines.

Now, the world is beginning to be more accepting of different kinds of beauty. This shows in modeling campaigns, specifically Dove’s Real Beauty campaign. Dove highlights every body type, well not every but a majority, as well as almost every complexion. Do not forget, advertising, modeling, beauty, is also considered art.

Another way the world is changing it’s guidelines of beauty is through the artist, Banksy. What would be considered graffiti before, is now considered graffiti art. Banksy isn’t a criminal, or fugitive wanted by law, but a mysterious graffiti artist. Now, don’t get me wrong I adore Banksy, the art, and mystery behind it. But it is an interesting double standard. The graffiti artists wanted by law, are just as much artists as Bansky. It takes an extremely talented person to be able to create graffiti on canvas so large, in places so odd. If you don’t feel that beauty, then like I said earlier, we have very different aesthetics.

This all wraps up into does art have to be beautiful? Is all art beautiful? Who is the authority in this? Who decides what is beautiful, and what is ugly? Who decides what is grunge and what is acceptable style? Who decides what is art and what is criminal? Does art have to be beautiful? No. It doesn’t. Art can be a pile of trash, art can be a pile of diamonds. It isn’t the art that is beautiful, but the creation behind it. Therefore, in my opinion... yes, all art is beautiful. Whether it’s my preference or yours. The creation behind the art is beautiful. The story behind art is beautiful. Most of the time, the art itself is also beautiful despite the pain behind it. Despite it not being your cup of tea. The beauty is so much more than surface level. Just as it is in people. Beauty is subjective, but that’s surface beauty. There is much more to beauty than what meets the eye. Which is why I believe graffiti is beautiful. The story behind graffiti, behind the names they choose, the styles, the creation of graffiti. Yes, graffiti can be vandalism when used in gang culture, to represent territory, but even then.... You can’t deny the beauty of the art.