Earl Brunner on wed 15 aug 01
Perhaps a better question might be, "Is it good design?" You can apply
all of the elements of art to things that occur in nature, design,
texture, balance, form, color, light and dark. All of these elements
define whether we think something is pleasing or not. If all the
elements of good design are there, THEN IT IS GOOD. There is so much in
the natural world that is beautiful and good, created or brought to it's
present condition by the workings of the elements and time. Is the work
of a photographer like Ansel Adams art? Artists perhaps "see"
differently than the average person and feel a drive or compulsion to
create. Whether or not we define something as "art" s really immaterial
to whether it is "GOOD".
Wesley Rolley wrote:
>
> Question:
> I have posted a picture to my Internet site,
> http://www.refpub.com/art/wes/movement.jpg The object is a small (~11 in.
> wide x 6 in. high) piece of manzanita that I found along the shore of a
> lake that is between my house and the hills in the background. The
> picture was an experiment in backlighting with my digital camera, and
> came out too dark when viewed online. However, it still is good enough
> to pose my question. Is this a work of art? It was formed by the acts of
> nature, not mine. I only "recognized it" and decided that it was best
> viewed in a certain manner.
>
> I think that potters like to talk about their intent and, according to
> Mayor Mel, some actually study the technical aspects of their work. But
> I hopefully we all recognize that accident (or at the least science at a
> level, governed by laws of probability, that we are not yet capable of
> fully understanding) plays a large role in what we do. Why else would
> the kiln gods exist?
>
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec/
bruec@anv.net
Ann Brink on wed 15 aug 01
the subject.
Hello Wesley,
First, about the quote--I prefer to think that artists are not necessarily
lacking in common sense- just that they are able to shift mental gears, so
to speak, and think in a way that doesn't require logic as a paradigm. IMO
Your photo: If it's something that falls within your personal parameters of
"what is art", it is, for you. By placing the manzanita on a box, locating
it against a chosen background, you have given it a context, highlighted
it's importance - thereby making it easier for others to notice that it is a
work of art. When it comes to "Nature" there is very little that is not a
work of art, in my opinion. The photo is your work of art, your
composition, even though as you say, the lighting is not quite what you
intended.
Ann Brink in CA, thinking that defining "Art" is too slippery for me to
spend much time on it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Rolley"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 9:35 AM
Subject: Artist? A quote and a question. Don't read if you are tired of the
subject.
Quote: From "The 3-Cornered World" by Natsume Soseki, a famed (picture
is on 1000 Yen note) Japanese journalist and novelist from the early 20th
century.
"Putting it as a formula, I suppose you could way that an artist is a
person who lives in the triangle which remains after the angle which we
may call common sense has been removed from this four-cornered world.
Because of this lack of common sense, the artist is not afraid to
approach those areas, both in the natural and in the man-made world, from
which the average person shrinks back, and in consequence is able to find
the most exquisite pearls of beauty."
Question:
I have posted a picture to my Internet site,
http://www.refpub.com/art/wes/movement.jpg The object is a small (~11 in.
wide x 6 in. high) piece of manzanita that I found along the shore of a
lake that is between my house and the hills in the background. The
picture was an experiment in backlighting with my digital camera, and
came out too dark when viewed online. However, it still is good enough
to pose my question. Is this a work of art? It was formed by the acts of
nature, not mine. I only "recognized it" and decided that it was best
viewed in a certain manner.
I think that potters like to talk about their intent and, according to
Mayor Mel, some actually study the technical aspects of their work. But
I hopefully we all recognize that accident (or at the least science at a
level, governed by laws of probability, that we are not yet capable of
fully understanding) plays a large role in what we do. Why else would
the kiln gods exist?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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Tommy Humphries on wed 15 aug 01
the subject.
Art is such a subjective subject...it is something different to everyone on
earth, yet we all want others to see our work as art. I will see something
different than anyone else, they will see similar... the shape will be the
same, but the details will be different to all. Where you might see the
overall shape of a work, I might see the way the colors play off one
another, mel, might see the way the "artist" used the negative space to add
depth and character to the piece. All of us will see all these things, but
all of us will SEE what speaks to us as individuals. Perhaps only as a
group, will we be able to appreciate the work for what it really is, through
discussion of what it means to us individually. I think that this is why
art should be for the general public. When one person is looking at a piece
and just don't get it, there usually is someone there who will be in love
with it. A dialogue will develop and generally the two will take away more
than if the piece was viewed by oneself.
Is artwork, artwork until viewed by the public?????
Is your piece of driftwood a work of art? NO...
Because it was created not with the emotional input of the "artist", but
with the random effects of nature. It is a natural marvel, perhaps
beautiful to look at, but not art.
Should this matter to us the viewers? If we are moved to tears looking at
something from nature, does this enhance or detract from the emotions we get
from viewing art. Perhaps artists, are trying to capture some of the
strength and emotion of nature in their works...who knows but the
artist...and too often they don't know themselves where they get the
inspiration.
So, your driftwood is not art, but your photo could be, as you manipulated
the wood to the point that it pleased you in its composition within the
frame of your camera. The wood was speaking to you through the camera.
Viewed from another angle, perhaps it would have inspired a bonfire and
wiener roast instead of a photo.
You mention that much comes from accidents...Who knows how many sculptures
started out to be the great "masterpiece" but some flaw in the stone sparked
the sculptor to veer off on some wild tangent, totally different from the
original subject, only to be hailed as the greatest work of art of the time.
Or a wobbly rim on a pot, become the inspiration for a new series of pots,
that become the star of some big gallery.
As I wrote in the first line...Art is subjective...Are you an artist, am I,
is he??? Who knows or cares. Let the work speak for itself.
Tommy
Rambling in a drug induced semi-haze from pain killers helping to relieve a
strained wrist and forearm.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Rolley"
"
>
> Question:
> I have posted a picture to my Internet site,
> http://www.refpub.com/art/wes/movement.jpg The object is a small (~11 in.
> wide x 6 in. high) piece of manzanita that I found along the shore of a
> lake that is between my house and the hills in the background. The
> picture was an experiment in backlighting with my digital camera, and
> came out too dark when viewed online. However, it still is good enough
> to pose my question. Is this a work of art? It was formed by the acts of
> nature, not mine. I only "recognized it" and decided that it was best
> viewed in a certain manner.
Ababi on thu 16 aug 01
the subject.
I tried to make it brighter in my Compupic. It looks to me like an old log
that got a nice name. If it is a sculptor, yes there is movement, I cannot
judge someone else I would not show it around if it was my work
Ababi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Rolley"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 06:35
Subject: Artist? A quote and a question. Don't read if you are tired of the
subject.
Quote: From "The 3-Cornered World" by Natsume Soseki, a famed (picture
is on 1000 Yen note) Japanese journalist and novelist from the early 20th
century.
"Putting it as a formula, I suppose you could way that an artist is a
person who lives in the triangle which remains after the angle which we
may call common sense has been removed from this four-cornered world.
Because of this lack of common sense, the artist is not afraid to
approach those areas, both in the natural and in the man-made world, from
which the average person shrinks back, and in consequence is able to find
the most exquisite pearls of beauty."
Question:
I have posted a picture to my Internet site,
http://www.refpub.com/art/wes/movement.jpg The object is a small (~11 in.
wide x 6 in. high) piece of manzanita that I found along the shore of a
lake that is between my house and the hills in the background. The
picture was an experiment in backlighting with my digital camera, and
came out too dark when viewed online. However, it still is good enough
to pose my question. Is this a work of art? It was formed by the acts of
nature, not mine. I only "recognized it" and decided that it was best
viewed in a certain manner.
I think that potters like to talk about their intent and, according to
Mayor Mel, some actually study the technical aspects of their work. But
I hopefully we all recognize that accident (or at the least science at a
level, governed by laws of probability, that we are not yet capable of
fully understanding) plays a large role in what we do. Why else would
the kiln gods exist?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Rod & Erin on mon 20 aug 01
the subject.
Yes it's a work of art. Very beautiful nature is a very powerful artist
indeed and has had alot of paractice in doing so.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Rolley"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 9:35 AM
Subject: Artist? A quote and a question. Don't read if you are tired of the
subject.
Quote: From "The 3-Cornered World" by Natsume Soseki, a famed (picture
is on 1000 Yen note) Japanese journalist and novelist from the early 20th
century.
"Putting it as a formula, I suppose you could way that an artist is a
person who lives in the triangle which remains after the angle which we
may call common sense has been removed from this four-cornered world.
Because of this lack of common sense, the artist is not afraid to
approach those areas, both in the natural and in the man-made world, from
which the average person shrinks back, and in consequence is able to find
the most exquisite pearls of beauty."
Question:
I have posted a picture to my Internet site,
http://www.refpub.com/art/wes/movement.jpg The object is a small (~11 in.
wide x 6 in. high) piece of manzanita that I found along the shore of a
lake that is between my house and the hills in the background. The
picture was an experiment in backlighting with my digital camera, and
came out too dark when viewed online. However, it still is good enough
to pose my question. Is this a work of art? It was formed by the acts of
nature, not mine. I only "recognized it" and decided that it was best
viewed in a certain manner.
I think that potters like to talk about their intent and, according to
Mayor Mel, some actually study the technical aspects of their work. But
I hopefully we all recognize that accident (or at the least science at a
level, governed by laws of probability, that we are not yet capable of
fully understanding) plays a large role in what we do. Why else would
the kiln gods exist?
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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