What Is Art?????

            What is art? Million year old question, millions of different answers. Wouldn’t you think that the same question asked a million times would have the same answer? Like asking the color of dirt, one way or another it the answer will be similar. But asking what art is, it is like asking different people what they are thinking, you will never get the exact same answer. So is art thinking? Is it movement? Is it enjoyment? The essence of beauty? The contrast of colors? The movment of shapes and lines interacting as one? The power of shadows and volume? Is it the power of the artist?  The expression of the soul? The choice to be different? An idea that pops into a mind and has a need and thirst to escape and be shown? A collection of thoughts to express feelings? Is it the solid form of your soul? So you ask me what art is. Actually I have no idea, you tell me.

race & gender criticism

“One could argue that the art of disempowered peoples should be judged by the same aesthetic standards as the art of the powerful. But it can also be argued that the criticism of art is based on aesthetic principles developed in the mainstream of Western culture. How then [should we] judge quality in works that are not part of that tradition?”

1:  What the quote is saying is that some people think we should judge everyone’s art equally, no matter what. But at the same time its confusing because if art is based on principles made by the western culture how are we suppose to judge?

2: One situation I picture is that of an upcoming artist presenting his artwork, but his artwork is different. It is something we have not seen before, not structured and clean, this artwork has dementions and textures. It shows his culture and how his people are. The thing is that we look at his art as not being different and unique, but as being weird because we have not been exposed to it before. 

3: The thing is that, I do not think that a society can fix this. Because to us as humans there is always going to be a right or wrong way of looking at things. And if we are are not exposed to diversity, and are only exposed to Western art we will most likely not except the new. 

First blog, Feminist galleries

Feminist art is not just art that is made by females, but a sort of sisterhood and characteristics that bring this artwork together. And many people are wondering if feminist galleries are really necessary in 2010. Some say that it is not the idea of feminist art trying to prove that we are equal to men but the idea that the female race is being represented. And that is exactly what these 2 feminist galleries, ARC and Woman Made galleries, here in Chicago are trying to do. The point is that not many people believe that these galleries are really needed in 2010 because of sexual equality that we have now.

                        One thing that may not help ARC’s cause is that they have decided to show men’s work in an all women gallery. But ARC’s grant writer stated “We’ve all been influenced by the feminist movement.  We’re all somewhere between male and female.  There are men who do embroidery, there are women who do heavy-duty sculptural work.  Feminism is still relevant, as is feminist art.  It’s important to open the dialogue and to have a dialogue.  That’s what art is becoming more and more about”. So maybe those people that are saying that all-female galleries are not so necessary are right. I mean if every one is just in between sexes in art, should we really need art galleries displaying works from one gender? Because according to this person art is not about what gender you are but how you express yourself. So now my question is like the many other people who read this article, is one gender galleries really needed now a days?