What is my definition of Art?

Over the course of the semester I have witnessed several reactions of classmates to different works of art and heard a variety of reasons explaining their feelings toward those pieces. I've been struggling to find a definition of my own of what I believe Art is but I have come up with a basic criteria. I believe that to label something as a work of Art it must first prove some level of skill. This skill may be one of physical action, such as a painter or sculptor who has the ability to create by using their hands as tools to build their work. It could be a mental skill of concentration and imagination that photographers and poets have naturally dwelling within them. There will always be a certain level of skill presented with every work, even if you cannot readily place it when you stand in front of the piece on your own. The next critical part is creativity. One must be able to dream their image or structure with fierce clarity or see the beauty and meaning in something ordinary. The world of Art is dominated by incredible minds that managed to keep hold of their childhood imagination to embrace and perfect their art. Oh, and no art is art without a message. Even if the artist denies the presence of a message in their minds as their creation came to life there is still one piece to the world of Art that the artist will never be able to control and that is, the perspective from which their art is viewed by others. Every work of art will have moved at least one person in the world and sent them a message, whatever the message may be is not up to the creator once it leaves their studio.........

I have formed a new opinion...

I had never really looked up any of the works of Banksy even after having my best friend tell me about how much he liked him. I guess it was someone's presentation, I can't recall who but whoever it was that did the Christian Hahn/Banksy powerpoint, that really made me start to research him a bit. I love the fact that he sends, maybe uncomfortable, but obivous and truthful messages. The sarcasm and humor also seems to be another driving source for my feelings about his work. It reminds me almost of the tagging and picketing of the 60's movements or a group of rebel teens looking for fun at 3 am, just a simple goal to change the ways the world is run.

Interesting Ceramics

I am currently also taking a Ceramics class, if any of you don't know, and I came across an artist the other day that I have come to respect for her incredible ability to create thin, delicate pieces of art that stand beautifully unharmed, void of flaws. Eva Hild captures the essence of differentiating realities from both the outside and inside with her twisted yet, elegant forms. As I have been challenged recently with the difficulties of building with thin clay, I understand how much great patience and skill is needed to construct something so intricate.