What is art?…
Blog entry #1
This week I started art 111, where I was asked the question, “What is art?” Since I had a class last year with Ty, my professor, it was the second time I was asked this three word simple yet very complex question. Yes art can be a painting or a drawing but this question is so broad it is like asking, “what is god?” or “what is life?” But questioning art really got me thinking why do I do what I do? Why do I wake up and draw pictures of graffiti and city landscapes or why does my friend spend hours producing hip-hop beats that might never get heard? Art is part of life and I do not think art can be fully understood by anyone and that is what makes it so beautiful. Art affects everybody so differently. One painting I dislike someone could relate too and that piece could change their life. To me art is creative self-expression indifferent to medium.
Today in class was watched a video on Shepard Fairey a famous stencil artist and graphic designer. Even though I was very familiar with his works I never realized he was the one responsible for the all the art. Being a digital art major with a goal of being a graphic designer I loved to hear what he had to say about his artwork. You can tell art is Fairey’s life and he is completely dedicated to his craft. He has been arrested 14 times for vandalism-based crimes due to his public display of artwork. Myself being arrested when I was 14 for graffiti tagging I could relate to Fairey’s feelings toward the artwork he risks his life doing. The adrenaline you get from doing something you know your not supposed to do is crazy because you are expressing your talent to the world in this juvenile type of way. Some people might respect you, others (like people of authority) probably not so much. Fairey really grabbed me because he shows that you can be artist and make something from nothing. He does what he believes and loves and it got him where he is today.
The class reading asked and talks about the same questions our class has been asking. “What is art for?” was the title of this passage and I found it very interesting because when an artist does a piece he needs to understand his audience at least it seems like that these days. If an does a piece for skateboarding, his audience is skateboarders. On page 39, the author Dissanayake says, “In the Modern era, art’s role was to challenge and disrupt by means of its “otherness” and inaccessibility. Who is art for? Is what he asks. Many people think art is for artist but I do not believe this true at all. A graffiti artist once said graffiti art is not for the other people and I do not care if other cannot read what I write. I do this for the real graffiti writers and people that share the same passion as me and will respect what I do. I do believe if you want to make a living off a art you need to know who your client is and what they would like. I also agree with Dissanayake’s point where he says making something special is what has been socially and culturally important. That is why everyone spends hours working on what they believe is art, to make something great, wonderful, or timeless. This point reiterates points talked about in my class. “Good Art” is what everyone strives for but artwork can only be considered good if people other than the artist enjoy the piece.
