What Is Art?

“What is art?”

It’s great fodder for coffee talk. Maybe it’s a topic that’s only for art class. Art means nothing to most folk. Some think it’s nothing more than a distraction. Some think it's only for decoration. Some think art is only for the rich, or the intellectual, or the pretentious, or the gay.

“What is art?” is a question that affects every artist like the phrase “my toilet is clogged” affects every plumber.

But maybe you’re wondering what is art to me? Ooh, that’s an opportunity to wax poetic. That’s an interview question I rehearse when I’m going to the bathroom. What, you think I’m joking? Doesn’t every artist fantasize so?

In my imagination I picture it like this: When I’m a big shot intellectual artist celebrity rivalling George Clooney for the best dressed, an interviewer stays up all night sweating about what to ask me the next day. We sit there, faking comfortable. He’s trying not to sound stupid. I’m trying not to sound arrogant. And he says:

“What is art to you?” (Oh Liam, great genius artist?)

And I pause. Channel Leonard Cohen. Then I open my mouth and say:

“Art is what keeps me from killing people.” (No, no no!)

Rewind.

“Art is the reason I don’t kill myself.” (Na, too Van Gogh. And we all know where THAT ends.)

“Art is my talent that I won’t bury in the ground.” (You know, from the bible? Na, “talent” could be misinterpreted for, like, artistic talent when it really means money—which is like selling out, which is totally true but I can’t admit that, at least until I have the status of Andy Warhol…)

“Art is what brings me closer to God.” (Na, too Nine Inch Nails.)

“Art is the thought that needs to be completed by action” (Oooh, that sounds intelligent.)

“Art is my mental overflow.” (Now I’m getting somewhere. But not quite…)

I got it, here’s something from the news:

“Art is a giant, inflatable dog turd caught in the wind, destroying people’s property.”

It's a true story! Check out the article here. Or paste this url into your browser to go to the news: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2008/08/12/poo-sculpture-escape.html?ref=rss

Okay, that’s my blog for today.

Liam