What Constitutes Art?

A conversation with someone in the arts community got me thinking about our concept of art and how most people think about art. In this conversation, we were discussing various examples of creativity when the other person suggested that a garden constitutes art. I suppose I've often thought of art in the garden, but not as the garden being art.

Considering all the work that went into designing and implementing our garden and the time I regularly spend making decisions about which plants to move where - so that the result will be more pleasing to view and inhale - it makes perfect sense that the garden would be regarded as a piece of art.

When we refer to art, most people think of a painting, drawing or sculpture. Mention the arts, and music, drama, poetry and film come to mind. My own definition of art is 'something created - as an expression of an ideal or thought - that is not overtly practical.' That's my first go at it. I'm eager to see what Merriam-Webster's Dictionary says.

       art - the conscious use of skill and creative imagination esp. in the  production of aesthetic objects

We could argue that engaging in the practical  can indeed result in artful results. Cooking can be an art, as can decorating a room or designing and making a piece of furniture.

The person I had the aforementioned conversation with was David Vandas, Publisher and Senior Editor of WeMakeStuff (www.WeMakeStuff.ca).  A second volume of a coffee table book featuring 100 local artists is in the making, with a kickoff on September 14. The community of artists involved with WeMakeStuff support and encourage one other in a passion that is often misunderstood or not understood, especially by those who are not artists themselves. But more about artists in a future blog.

Sometimes art is created to make a statement. Sometimes it is created because of an idea that refused to lie dormant in the imagination. Many times art expresses beauty that resides around us or in us. Sometimes art is unpleasant to encounter, yet to encounter it is transformational.

Today, take a few moments to think about what you have created, and how you have been artful lately.  One of my routine art projects involves strolling around the garden, arranging something of beauty for my table. How about you?