I have been reading the pros and cons of what is ART in the forum.
Seems to me that Art is something an individual has a burning desire
to produce and another individual has a burning desire to possess it
when they feel or see it. Whether it is worn, gazed upon or felt (if
you are blind). To me Art represents and stimulates feelings of an
otherwise inexpressible nature that match something inside of the
appreciater, (viewer or would be buyer) then it is Art, mediocre or
grand.
I include music as an Art, also. I don’t speak a foreign language,
but a soaring Aria sends my spirit wildly soaring along with the
singer, or a Sousa March, my spirit thrills to the beat. A well
executed design in gems and metal inspire me to improve my work, to
better my self, and perhaps buy it to adorn myself if it’s something
beyond my own capabilities and skills to produce.
Confining Art in some sort of box label is punitive and stifles the
human spirit and it’s remarkable ability to bring forth Art in it’s
many forms for our pleasure, enlightment and entertainment, and yes,
to even console us during during those inconsoleable moments of
life. Loosen up a little, folks. Encourage each other to not strangle
this wonderful gift of self expression. You don’t have to buy it if
you don’t like it!
Ok, you asked, this is my thought for the day: I think it's
because we are dealing with a question involving spirit, which is a
very powerful impulse streaming through us all.
I think there’s maybe something more political in play there, too.
But pushing that aside, the above is something I can understand and
live with, and coupled with some other thoughts, here. One comment
that I’ll try to keep short: The “Art World” in toto, and especially
people like major curators, major collectors, and the sorts of people
who write big, erudite books on the subject, largely will say that
art
is painting and sculpture, period. Perhaps music, if you push. They
will say that the form and shape of “things” - dishes, clothing,
furniture, buildings, and yes, jewelry, is “Design”. Basically that
art has no purpose but to BE art, and once it has a purpose, it
becomes design. This because art is pure, boundless and unlimited,
and a spoon is limited by being a spoon. If one takes the spoon and
tweaks it to the point of “not-spoon”, then it’s sculpture, not
spoon. You can’t have it both ways, in other words. I’m not, by any
means, saying that I agree with that - though I do agree with some of
it. The only thing I’m saying is trying to change that is pretty much
impossible - it’s not like there’s a committee making decisions, it’s
a product of our cultural evolution, not a conscious decision on any
person’s part. Meaning that when Kevin said, “Jewelry is not art.”
what he said was completely true, by the prevailing world-view in
art.
I don’t take such a narrow view myself, and these things aren’t MY
opinion, I’m more just stating the facts, or some facts.
And as to that query, “Is Jewelry Making an Art?”, I would answer
with a firm and resolute “No, absolutely not”! Jewelry making, in
and of itself, is not an art. It is a craft (involving the repitition
and rote memorization of a series of techniques), in much the same
way as building neither cars, nor houses, nor furniture, in and of
themselves, are arts. However – and this is a biggie – there are
those of us who are both technical craftsmen (& “-women”) AND
artists, to whom the development of craft and technique have become
mere steppingstones en route to more eloquent means of personal
expression, and some of these people are artists, as well. The
answer to that question, then, is whether the finished pieces awe,
inspire and move viewers, or just serve a pedestrian purpose. To use
a lapidary metaphor, the guys who can crank out 500 7x5mm ovals in a
month are craftsmen; Bernd Munsteiner (for example) is an artist.
And it’s not a statement of egotism; it’s one based on the reactions
people consistently have to our work, and, for that matter, it’s
because those of us who are artists have never really had a say in
the matter. Basically, we didn’t choose it; it chose us.