Mind over things that matter

In the previous post I asserted that Art was determined by authorities governed, not by preference, but by something higher. This notion insinuates that we must accept Art as it is identified as such in a place made to exhibit it. To this I say, AMEN! Humility is the stuff of acceptance.

In Madeleine L’Engle’s book, Walking On Water, she talks about humility as it is connected to questioning God. As we accept God’s Godness, we are allowed to question Him. Like this, “…then I want to be open to God, not to what man says about God. I want to be open to revelation, to new life, to new birth, to new light.” And, “Remember– the root word of humble and human is the same: humus: earth. We are dust. We are created; it is God who made us and not we ourselves. But we were made to be co-creators with our maker.”

Doesn’t this make sense? We can trust those who embrace and show us Art. We accept it as such! Not because we demand that it is Art in our sight, but because it is Art in the sight of those who deem it to have the value. Not ALL things are Art. We do not determine that which is Art. We only believe in that which is shown to us as Art!

Here is more proof that Art is beyond personal taste. Let’s listen to a conversation. Recently, a friend came over to walk and we argued this point. It sounded like this:

Me: I am writing a book that states that we do NOT determine what art is.

Friend: I agree with this idea.

Me: You agree that “Not everything that people say, ‘That is Art’ is NOT actually Art? I mean, only gallery owners, curators and collectors of some renowned determine that which is art.

Not everything is art. Just because we put it on our walls.”

Friend: Oh no, I agree with you that anything is art. If there were a puddle on the floor over there and I took a photo of it, printed it, framed it and hung it in my hall it would be art.

Me: You mean like this shadow? You mean Art for you?

Friend: Yes! Art to me. I decide what is art for me.

Me: Ok, this is the exact idea I am refuting in my book. If the photo is not picked up by a gallery or hung in a museum, it is not ART. If it is only in your hallway it cannot be Art.

Friend: Why not? I determine what I like, therefore, I decide what is Art to me.

Me: The idea of Art is too big to be determined by preference or taste. Art is declared to be art by those who place it in a House for Art, i.e. a museum or gallery, etc., to be shared, which underscores its value. Objects are not decided to be art in a subjective manner. Art is declared Art by where it lives and who shares in it. Art is art because there are folks who define it to be so. And we are not those people.

Friend: I agree. But I still affirm that what I put in my home is Art. I am the authority over what is Art in my home.

Me: We do not agree! There is some definitely some disagreement here! (Which I actually did NOT say because I am a coward and did not want to hurt my friend.)

This discussion continued for over thirty minutes, ending with me nodding my head allowing my friend to continue with the illogical insistence that her Non-agreement was somehow an agreement. She demanded that things she wanted to be art in her home were so. She demanded that objects and works in a museum were NOT art because she said they were not.

Here I will clarify my point to this matter:

Art is not relative.

Art is like food, unarguable as a truth, food is food.

Food is food because we consume it and it gives us the nutrition we need to live. Some things are food and other things are not food. Some things are Art and others things are not. You and I are not the ones who make this decision because we purchase and hang something from Ross Dress For Less in our homes. Those objects are what they are: decorative objects that make our space more homey, more us. These objects identify US, not CULTURE.

How are you doing? Are you agitated? Let me see if I can relieve some of this stress.

Well, hang in there! I have some substantial support for my assertions that will make the ideas more reasonable. In the next chapter we will consider the place of The Collector.