art is cool ... discuss..

[Les_Sucettes]

art collapsed about the time when photography was invented

This would only be true if art for you is just about reproduction.

And bear in mind that not all art before the invention of photography was reproduction of the so called "real".

 

[*Princesse*]

... a bit random to mention perhaps but it reminds me of doctors who describe medicine as an art...

It's interesting you mentioned that, because I've always been struck by how you hear scientists, mathematicians, even teachers and researchers, describe what they do as art, and themselves as artists. I've rarely heard of the opposite - artists saying that through their profession, they're any of the above. It's the human need to create, isn't it? I think, to some extent, they're right, however. Any creation, to me, has an element of art. I don't mean anything constructed, I mean a creation: something physical, "real," produced by an internal/external connection. I'm not saying every creation is good art, or bad art, or even just art: only that a bit of art, whatever that is, is present.

 

[*Princesse*]

art collapsed about the time when photography was invented

no, I'd say portrait painting collapsed about the time photography was invented: that's the reproduction. And even so, people continue to have their portraits painted, probably because it still contains a human touch.
Photography, to me, opened up an entire new branch of art. Wouldn't you consider anything created by someone like Man Ray to be art? Perhaps not, but I'd be interested to hear your elaborations on why you have such a view.

 

[gius]

It's interesting you mentioned that, because I've always been struck by how you hear scientists, mathematicians, even teachers and researchers, describe what they do as art, and themselves as artists. I've rarely heard of the opposite - artists saying that through their profession, they're any of the above. It's the human need to create, isn't it? I think, to some extent, they're right, however. Any creation, to me, has an element of art. I don't mean anything constructed, I mean a creation: something physical, "real," produced by an internal/external connection. I'm not saying every creation is good art, or bad art, or even just art: only that a bit of art, whatever that is, is present.

and also culinary arts
i think it's almost like handcraft
it has to maintain a certain level of quality
a standard

 

[softgrey]

to say that there is 'an art to doing' anything...
has little, maybe nothing, to do with fine art...

it's simply a different use of the word...
different definition...

 

[masquerade]

no, I'd say portrait painting collapsed about the time photography was invented: that's the reproduction. And even so, people continue to have their portraits painted, probably because it still contains a human touch.
Photography, to me, opened up an entire new branch of art. Wouldn't you consider anything created by someone like Man Ray to be art? Perhaps not, but I'd be interested to hear your elaborations on why you have such a view.

i wouldn't say portrait painting collapsed with photography. As you noted, people still have their portraits painted (though probably more for traditions sake like with the presidential portrait). Also, there are still artists who build their careers on portraits, like Chuck Close and Lucien Freud.

From my understanding of this "photography is not art" idea, they believe it has to do with originality and "authenticity". I don't agree with this theory at all, so i haven't studied it too in depth to really make their argument, but I have studied a few photographers and most authors bring this argument up when discussing it, since it is widely held. A painting has, as you said, "the human touch". It makes, as people who hold this belief, artwork art. When art is reproduced in photographs, it takes it away. As for photography as art itself, since it can be reproduced and the act of photography is more accessible, it isn't considered art.

I don't know if i really explained the argument well. Since I think it is total crap, I'm not really too interested in knowing all their theories

 

[gius]

to say that there is 'an art to doing' anything...
has little, maybe nothing, to do with fine art...

it's simply a different use of the word...
different definition...

no no any sort of creative activity
doing absolutely anything
certainly did not mean that they are all art

rather craftmanship and fine art are two different things

 

[*Princesse*]

to say that there is 'an art to doing' anything...
has little, maybe nothing, to do with fine art...

it's simply a different use of the word...
different definition...

I don't necessarily mean there's 'an art to doing anything.' I mean that in any kind of creation, there's a bit of art. Certainly that doesn't qualify it as a fine art, but I think this is more a matter of (sizable) degree than difference.

Key words, as always, I think, I mean... I like playing around with ideas.

Thanks for the explanation, masquerade!

 

[fourboltmain]

art collapsed about the time when photography was invented

That's like saying the car made horses obsolete. They just became a niche thing. I think 'fine art' evolved from the lack of cameras and that lead to the realist style of painting, because nobody could have a portrait due to the high cost of an artist.

Photography crashed that all down by making it accessible to everyone, and when that happened, things eventually got more surreal on the painting side. Why paint something you can shoot?

gius, I also don't know about craftsmanship and fine art really being different. I guess it depends how how you see everyday objects like a fork or spoon, and who it's made by. Ever seen an Alphonse Mucha fork or spoon?

I guess it's the human touch that makes things real.

 

[masquerade]

well, there was definitely some surreal art before photography, just think of Bosch and Mannerism, though I agree that photography helped painting become less about representation and more about expression.

 

[ChrissyM]

*bump

has anyone done anything cool and art related lately?

i haven't been able to get organized enough to actually go out and do anything

 

[gius]

^ you don't have to go outside to do something art-related ??

tomorrow morning we're meeting an artist who works in 'pyro-textiles'
she burns them, uses heat guns to distort, age, melt them,etc.
we get to play with her equipment too i'm bringing polyesters and nylons (along with a respirator)

but i can't remember the last time i went out to see a gallery showing or anything of the sort
we're always a little isolated
but i did go meet with a few sculptors in the fine arts dept. here... it appears there was a young man who had graduated from textiles too and he was sitting in his genius rocking chair made entirely of embossed metal.. basically a zig-zag shape

 

[adorefaith]

i still havent been to that sidney nolan retrospective . .
i kept planning to go . .

now it ends next week . .
so i need to get organised . .

sounds pretty cool gius . . let us know how it goes !

 

[MissMagAddict]

*bump

has anyone done anything cool and art related lately?

i haven't been able to get organized enough to actually go out and do anything

gius is right you don't have to leave the house. i make at least one collage a day in my moleskine notebook & i will also photograph everyday things in my apt if i don't go out that day.

also i find this website inspiring...

http://www.notcot.org/

be sure to check out the others that go along with it: tastespotting, notcouture, etc...links at the top of the page.

if you need a kick start for making your own art...i find keri smith so inspiring...

http://www.kerismith.com/blog/

follow the links on the right

 

[adorefaith]

i find notcot and notcouture great too . . ^

 

[BerlinRocks]

i'm reading interesting opinions there....
i don't know if you guys are doing art or art history, but if you don't.... i'm surprised by the culture you've got and the reflexion....

anyway....
photography in a way, it's right, helped to develop another way of painting.....
painters concentrated on something new... they didn't really need to represent the World the way it is.... Photogrpahy was there.... but it's not as easy as it seems (maybe you should read Walter Benjamin)
but that has ab. nothing to do with Surrealism....as Mannerism and Dutch Paintings are not Surreal at all..... (ahah, you cannot say what you want about art.... I'm so bothering...hehe)

Masquerade talked about Bosch (dutch painter, right?) and is in a way on the good path..... in the XIXth, Dutch Painting became very important to people like Courbet etc. because it was a Past Reference that could let them paint daily things.....and people were saying that Rembrandt's or Vermeer's paintings were "photogrpahy of daily-life" (eventhough we now know it's not exactly right...)

Before that (and except in Dutch Paintings) painting things from the daily-life wasn't really appreciated..... it was all about History, Bible etc.

and about Fine Arts... well Fine Arts is dead since the 60s, as now most of the artists don't seperate things like drawings, paintings, sculptures etc. and many of those are now mixed together. video and media art has developed so much etc

my english isn't good... sorry....

I think ChrissyM was talking about exhibit' and things like that, right?

 

[gius]

those look great, MMA

would have lots to say about notcot
but i like just the simple things for creating, noted on kerismith's blog

ideas
1. Go for a walk. Draw or list things you find on the the sidewalk.
2. Write a letter to yourself in the future.
3. Buy something inexpensive as a symbol for your need to create, (new pen, a tea cup, journal). Use it everyday.
4. Draw your dinner.
5. Find a piece of poetry you respond to. Rewrite it and glue it into your journal.
6. Glue an envelope into your journal. For one week collect items you find on the street. 7. Expose yourself to a new artist, (go to a gallery, or in a book.) Write about what moves you about their work.
8. Find a photo of a person you do not know. Write a brief bio about them.
9. Spend a day drawing only red things.
10. Draw your bike.
11. Make a list of everything you buy in the next week.
12. Make a map of everywhere you went in one day.
13. Draw a map of the creases on your hand, (knuckles, palm)
14. Trace your footsteps with chalk.
15. Record an overheard conversation.
16. Trace the path of the moon in relation to where you live.
17. Go to a paint store. Collect 'chips' of all your favorite colors. read more ideas.

i just realise i don't do much outside of school something for myself
except looking at books
reading about cultures, research
except it's a little anthropology type things in my free time ^^;;

i did spend some time watching a very aesthetically pleasing film these two evenings, Kwaidan (japanese ghost stories)
it really does help relieve stress XD
it almost felt bad doing it, for some reason
Perhaps i'll also take time each day to do something for myself.. like MMA, except hmm a drawing each day

 

[gius]

I think ChrissyM was talking about exhibit' and things like that, right?

yes anything art-related
any art-related activities

i agree with you that photography helped develop a new kind of painting,
and fine art nowadays is completely different
more concept-driven in my opinion
(and so, some art schools lack good instruction in practical and technical skills...)

 

[ChrissyM]

^^yes i guess i wasn't really thinking about other stuff that I've been doing
when i posed the question i was thinking about how i've been wanting to go to the ICA in Boston for over a year and still haven't made it over there

At home I've been scrapbooking, organizing photographs, photo editing at work, taking pictures etc...
i think i should definitely do more to bring art into my everyday life...
i get a bit of the design aspect at work because i get to give input on graphic design and a new advertising campaign for our new website..

i should start sketching/drawing/doodling..
i used to really like doing that and haven't done it in so long..
i'm rambling..

it's cool to hear about the little projects everyone else is working on though!

 

[Chrisdesigner]

Random thought:
"Art should excite the heart, and inspire the soul".