learnteach: (whitemartini)
[personal profile] learnteach
This weekend, somehow, with all of the things occuring, ended up being discussions of art. Which leads me to 3 comments (it's a Monday, 5 is too many, oops, that makes it four...)



...three sir! Right, Three!

1. What is Art, and it is definable as good or bad (can quality be judged) on an objective scale? I say not, right up to the point that Jeanvieve makes, which is that some of what is produced is personal expression, not Art. (This is a different definition from there being only four things in life: Feeding, Mating, Fighting, and anything else is art.) So, while early efforts in the medium of Crayola may light up my heart and decorate my refrigerator, they are not Art.

I do maintain that the definition of Art is vague enough that there is no objective measurement of it. Art can be evaluated for its Craft, or skill in utilizing the media; Art can be evaluated in success, whether it communicated the artist's intent to the audience. Art can be measured by value in the markets. Craft is not Art; the others are subjective. An interesting discussion.

2. I generate a huge amount of ideas relating to projects, to art, inspired by everything around me. Ariel needs an octopus pin with a steampunk feel; I could design one, ask Tugrik to cut it out on his laser (wood), prototype it that way, then make a metal one. How about a hummingbird with wings on a spring so as you moved, they trembled? That would be very cool, enameled. They could be LED back lit; I could go finish the internally lit sand dollar I always wanted to do. Oh, how about a light up mushroom pin for Judy? I bet I could trade some to Far West Fungi for a lot of good eats!

Xylocopa: http://www.xylocopa.com/product/maple-octopus-pendant Cool!
http://store.farwestfungi.com/mushroom-mini-farms.html

3. My laurel, Juana, told me to do art. It's her gentle way.
But...I have been doing art. And service, as an art.
At the Esfenn feast, I co-ordinated the serving and the entertainment, and played a small part in the entertainment. I also worked as part of the guest list.
I'm helping with the 2010 PPF feast, and helped with the previous feast as well.
At the Darkwood masked ball, I taught and led dancing, drummed a bit, and ran a few games of boffer chess.
Mist's Bardic feast I served, helped in the kitchen (onions!), and performed 5 works, two of them impromptu.

I'm autocrating the Crosston Ball as a Robin Hood Masking (too early to be a May Play.)

So, I'm doing art...just not much that the SCA considers laurel worthy. Serving is a service, MC work is a service.

Date: 2009-10-05 10:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gormflaith.livejournal.com
You live artfully.

Date: 2009-10-05 05:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tsgeisel.livejournal.com
"Art is what you can get away with." - Warhol

I tend to agree with that statement, so I don't really have an objective answer to the big question - it's all entirely subjective. If you can convince people you're doing art, you're doing art.

Date: 2009-10-05 05:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kahnegabs.livejournal.com

Indeed MC work is a service. I think you help make everything run more smoothly each time. I know your MC service was most appreciated at the wedding this weekend. And, as always, you did it very artfully!

WE thank you!

Date: 2009-10-05 06:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] falzalot.livejournal.com
I would say that your service made the Esfenn feast much more art-like!!

From your little apprentice sister

Date: 2009-10-05 11:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarahbellem.livejournal.com
Hmmm... interesting ideas. "What is art" is almost as old as "what is the meaning of life"... I come from the broad spectrum approach that everything a human does that involves creativity is, in some way, art. It's too subjective, however, to argue whether or not it is a "valuable" art (in whatever context you're reading into this).

And I totally understand the feeling of doing art, but not "valuable" art... Or that much of the art is being overlooked or passed over because it isn't... something enough. Maybe it's visibility... Sometimes the best art we do is done under the radar, one on one, and not in massive large scale projects that take the Populace's breath away. And of course, those kinds of art are going to be hard to detect by the Powers That Be, and of course, there is an inherent value placed on Highly Visible Art, because it is hard to ignore.

I don't have any answers, but I'd love to talk more about this if you're interested.

Re: From your little apprentice sister

Date: 2009-10-06 03:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] learnteach.livejournal.com
yes, this subject is rattling around my brainpan right now! Coronet?

On Art...

Date: 2009-10-06 12:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] helblonde.livejournal.com
I think Lee Press-on put it well in God's Gift:
"People didn't pay ten bucks just to hear you masturbate."

Date: 2009-10-06 01:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdymonkey.livejournal.com
It's art if you think it is.

It's valuable if you think it is.

It's worthwhile if you think it is.

If you worry about what others think, you risk getting it wrong.

Date: 2009-10-06 02:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] j-i-m-r.livejournal.com
Geez, I didn't mean that you don't do/make art ... it was just a little nag to make sure you keep at it. I realize that you aren't one of my "fast track" apprentices ... but you do art and I know that.

No, no!

Date: 2009-10-06 02:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] learnteach.livejournal.com
Your interest was taken in no negative way; it's more "How do I package what I consider art so that others might consider it Art?" I'm certainly not taking your comment as anything but "Go, John T, and make coolness!" but I'm trying to during this period of involvement, define what the Arts are for me...
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