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.